DOZENS of local people attended a meeting, making clear their determination to see a church building stay open.
St Mary’s Church in Merrymeet, which was built 116 years ago as a mission church for the parish of Menheniot, needs £150,000 worth of repairs. While the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and the wider Diocese had stated they were open to an alternative plan should one come forward, the prospect of closure had seemed inevitable, if a significant sum of money could not be raised.
There has been anger among the Merrymeet Residents Association about how they feel the PCC, over time, has handled the situation: the Association feels that a chance several years ago to obtain grant money was not taken up, and feels that certain decisions leading toward the closure of the building were made ‘behind closed doors’ – a suggestion which the church has categorically denied.
The Association also feels that the church could have stayed open through the pandemic as a facility for the community; keys were removed from keyholders, say members, yet the building was deemed safe to be used as a polling station during the recent Cornwall Council elections. Among the 90 people present at a meeting at St Martin’s Church in Liskeard were many residents of Merrymeet, who want to see the church stay open as a hub for people living in and around the village. Prior to the lockdowns, the building had been used for coffee mornings, lunches and video evenings, hand bell practice and choir rehearsals, and had hosted meetings of the Parish Council and Residents Association, as well as being a back-up venue for events in wet weather.
Speaking on behalf of the Association, secretary Lynette Luck, chairman Peter Luck and vice-chairman Sean Smith said: “The Church was originally built in 1905 for the total cost of £750. Of this, £680 was raised by the residents, the Church Building Society promised £25: a sale of work, and refreshments on the opening of the Church raised another £30. The whole Church is listed under Grade II listing together with the Memorial Window to the fallen dead of the parish from The Great War 1914-19.”
Prior to the coronavirus crisis, members of the community and representatives of the church had been working on a plan to apply for National Lottery Heritage Funding to repair the roof and refurbish the interior as a community hall. Now, the Residents Association and wider community have taken up the mantle of fundraising once more – and priest for the St Cleer and Menheniot Church Cluster, the Reverend Becca Bell, says she really hopes to see the project succeed.
“It is obvious there is a lot of high feeling and passion regarding the church,” said Rev Becca.
“The building is valued and wanted as a community space, although I don’t think we are likely to see a huge upturn in attendance to worship!
“Thankfully the Residents Association stepped up to support a project, although made it clear they could not lead on it. The first step will be to explore how the project can meet the criteria laid down by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. From there the group will need to look at fundraising and gathering evidence to meet the NLHF Criteria.
“The church building at Merrymeet is still fine to use at this time, and we are holding worship there on a monthly basis.”
Vice chair of the Residents Association Sean Smith said: “All parties have to work together and make sure this building is saved. People are angry as to the past oversights, but we now have to move on.”
A further meeting is set to take place at St Mary’s Church itself for all those wishing to support the project, date to be confirmed.
In the meantime, the Residents Association is setting up a separate fund purely for any works needed to save and convert the church building.
“We hope people will help us in our fight to save the only building left for the community in the village.”