Parish Priest of  Porthleven and Sithney

The Rev'd Harry Pugh

Apart from my years at college in London and Canterbury I spent the whole of my life in Lancashire before moving to Cornwall in September 2001, and I am very proud to be a Lancastrian. Having said that, it is great to live in Cornwall and the welcome I have received has been tremendous.

One of the advantages of living in Cornwall, apart from its beauty and the warmth of its people, is its musical tradition of Male Voice Choirs. Having sung with the Leyland Male Voice Choir I was delighted to be able to join Praze Male Voice Choir, of which I am a proud member.

I am a keen gardener and, time permitting, I am in the process of uncovering and restoring the Vicarage Garden. "Nearer to God in a garden?" - we;; perhaps. I certainly find great peace and tranquillity sitting in my garden.

Italy is another passion of mine and, after spending a number of holidays there, I am now trying to learn Italian. So if there are any Italians out there please visit me in Porthleven.

Each Parish has two Church Wardens who are ex-officio members of an elected Parochial Church Council (P.C.C.) serviced by a Secretary and a Treasurer

For NOVEMBER Father Harry writes . . . . 

Prayers of Intercession for the Sick

Because the sick list on the Sunday newsletter seems to be getting longer and longer and because we are not always informed when somebody has recovered from their illness we are, after discussions in our Parochial Church Councils, beginning a new system with a new Sunday newsletter. From Advent Sunday names of those to be included on the sick list should be given to Fr. Harry. preferably in writing, by Friday evening; please do not ring the editor of the newsletter and ask for names to be added. Because of confidentiality it is always necessary to obtain the permission of someone before their name can be added to the intercession list. Please remember there are people who do not want their names on the list. Names will be included on the list for four weeks after which it will be necessary for a new request to be made, If all this seems unduly bureaucratic I apologize; but I have been asked by many people to review the situation and this is the solution that our PCC’s have suggested. Please remember, also, that you can pray for people at home and not just in church. Take the newsletter home with you and use it in your daily prayers.

All Saints’

At the beginning of November we celebrate All Saints’ Day. Observing particular saints days and All Saints’ Tide is a reminder to us of the eternal dimension of the Church. So often our vision of the Church is earthbound, because there are so many practical considerations that occupy our minds. Much of our time these days is spent on money-raising, and discussion at Parochial Church Council meetings is dominated more often than not with financial matters. And, of course, if the Church is to continue to exist in Porthleven and Sithney then we do have to raise money. But the Church is more than just the Church in Porthleven and Sithney, more than just the Church here on earth. All Saints’ tide is a reminder to us that the Church comprises all those who have ever professed the Christian faith. We are part of that “mystical fellowship which is the communion of saints.”

With prayers and best wishes.

Yours sincerely,

                   Harry Pugh

PARISH FOCUS

Harvest Festivals

Harvest Thanksgiving was celebrated in both our churches on Sunday 1st October.  Our harvest appeal this year was, as in previous years, for The Friends of Urambo & Mwanhala, a West Country based charity that we have supported for many years. St. Sithney’s raised £134.00 which included the proceeds from the Guldice or Harvest Supper which followed Evensong at St.Sithney’s.

Garage Sale

Many thanks to all who organized and supported the Garage Sale which was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eric Mildren on Saturday 24th October. £485.00 was raised for St. Sithney’s Church funds.

Archdeacon’s Pastoral Visit

We were very pleased to welcome The Venerable Roger Bush, Archdeacon of Cornwall, to our services on Sunday 22nd October. He preached in both of our churches in the morning and officiated and preached at Evensong at St. Sithney’s in the evening. The Archdeacon was entertained to lunch by the Churchwardens at the home of Mr. & Mrs. Eric Mildren. It was the Archdeacon’s first visit to our parishes.

Filming at St Bartholomew’s

At the request of Mr. Dick Powell, a member of our congregation and Project Associate of REonline, the Sunday morning Eucharist at St. Bartholomew’s on Sunday 15th October was filmed as part of a national Religious Education project.

The project is funded through the Culham Institute, Oxford and the Deportment for Education and Science ‘Education Outside the Classroom’ initiative. It seeks to introduce pupils and students in schools to places of worship and enable them to get to know what religious objects are to be found in a Church and how they are important for the individual and the worshipping community.

The project has already filmed a Jewish Synagogue in Exeter, a Hindu Mandir and a Sikh Gurdwara in London, and a Moslem Mosque and a Buddhist Vihara in Birmingham.

It is a great privilege for our church here in Porthleven to be chosen to represent the Christian community of the Church of England for this project work. Each of the video pieces will be available as a free resource for teachers and pupils on www.REonline.org.uk by the end of December.

  The Vicarage, Pendeen Road, Porthleven, HELSTON TR13 9AL       Tel: +44(0)1326 562419

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