THIS weekend sees the return of the annual Cross of St Piran awards on Saturday, March 8.

A number of local recipients from across the Duchy will be presented with the award at a service in Perranzabuloe at St Piran’s Church.

During two services, 20 people will receive the Cross of St Piran from Bishop Hugh Nelson in recognition for their work in their churches and communities. For the first time, schools have also been invited to take part.

The Cross of St Piran is an annual award which is presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond in their service. They are largely nominated by their peers and can be recognised for everything from length of service to specific projects.

Fourteen crosses are to be handed out to those across the diocese including Robert Corney from Stratton Deanery, Ellen McConnell of the Trigg Minor and Bodmin Deanery, Rob Tremain from Trigg Major Deanery.

A valued and respected member of both church and community, Rob has taken responsibility for leadership in many aspects of church and community life.

He served for many years as Churchwarden at Marhamchurch and remains a member of the Parochial Church Council (PCC). He is a devoted, enthusiastic and supportive bell ringer and currently Ringing Master of the Truro Diocesan Guild of Ringers (Northern District).

In his role as a Local Worship Leader, he maintains the rota for readers and intercessions, takes services in two parishes and is always on hand to take part in services and celebrations across the Benefice.

He has been a Deanery Synod representative and has faithfully represented his parish whilst contributing to the Deanery Plan and subsequent ‘On the Way’ developments.

Rob was chair of the Governors of Marhamchurch Church of England School for more than 20 years. He has been a Trustee of the Bray Institute Community Hall in Marhamchurch and has also been a Trustee of the Marhamchurch Revel field and is still involved in the Revel Committee.

Ellen has faithfully served the community of Lanlivery for almost 50 years. In that time, she has held several significant posts within the community, including the Parish Council, the village’s Publications Committee, and in the local parish church.

More recently Ellen has developed significant links between the new special needs school and the church, as well as taking up responsibilities at Deanery Synod. She also maintains good relationships with the local county primary school.

She was a member of the first “Open the Book” team established by her incumbent over eight years ago and continues to support the group in whichever school they visit.

Over her 50 years as a resident in Lanlivery, Ellen has been responsible for spearheading some of the most radial and progressive reorganisational work in the church’s history.

The Millenium Project 2000 saw the parish church reorganised and updated so that it has become the centre of the community, hosting many of the major events that were previously held in the Village Hall. This has resulted in hundreds of people from the community and surrounding area engaging with the church in new ways.

Ellen has also served her local Parochial Church Council (PCC) for the last 47 years, the last 25 spent tirelessly as a Churchwarden. Prior to this she was PCC secretary for 22 years.

She also regularly takes services and is a licenced Lay Worship Leader. Most recently she has become the deanery representative in support of her incumbent because she felt greater links were required between the parish and deanery.

Rob has been an active member of St Mary Magdalene Parish Church since childhood, when he sang in the choir.

He has been a Server for over 60 years and was enrolled into the GSS in 1963 and is still an Altar Server and Sacristan at the Church. He has served on both Deanery and Diocesan Synods and is now a Local Worship Leader within the benefice.

Rob organised the first St Piran’s Day Ceremony at Launceston Castle in 1999 and was involved in getting permissions for the St Piran Flag to fly from the castle.

He was made a Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh 1998 and took the Bardic name Cryor an Dre Lanstefan. As president, he is a leading light of the Launceston branch of the Old Cornwall Society.

In 1995 along with his father, he organised the re-introduction of the ‘Silence’ on November 11 in Launceston. Rob has been Launceston’s Town Crier for 48 years and was elected to the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers in 1982.

Rob is also a town councillor and joined Launceston Town Council in 1988 serving as Mayor in 2011-12 and 2012-13. He currently represents the council within Friends of Launceston Priory, the Charles Causley Festival and Launceston Municipal Charities. In 2019, Rob was made an Honoured Burgess of the Town of Launceston in recognition of his considerable contribution to the town.

Other people collecting the Cross of St Piran award include Judith Ayers (East Wivelshire), Annette Buchanan (Kerrier Deanery), Ruth Berreta and Philip Gilbert (Carnmarth North Deanery), Jacqui Bennett (Carnmarth South Deanery), Tony Cruddas (Powder Deanery), Viv Farmer (Pydar Deanery), Ian Gordon (West Wivelshire Deanery) and Stephen Rivers and Edwina Sleeman (St Austell Deanery).

There are also six awards to be given out to people in church schools including Brenda Wright from St Issey School.

In August 2010, Brenda was confirmed and became a much-respected Worship Leader at St Issey Church.

Brenda was appointed a Foundation Governor in 2016 at a crucial turning point in the school’s history. It had been on the cusp of closure, but, thankfully, with new leadership and governance, it was turned around to be the thriving school it is today.

Brenda had the vision to work with dedication to foster a strong link between the church, school and village communities, not least through her role as member, and more recently, Chair of St Issey in Bloom. This group was formed in 2010 in a bid to restore the village’s identity, following the recent closure of the local store and Post Office.

Brenda leads a flourishing School Gardening Club, with the full support of the head teacher. She works to ensure that her love of nature and the nurture of the environment are passed on to the children through a variety of horticultural projects. Through the beauty and bounty created in the garden, the children gain a sense of ownership and pride. They love Brenda and call her ‘Mrs Bloom’.

Others collecting the award to people in church schools include Fiona Harvey (Antony School), Abigail Jessop (The Bishops’ Church of England Learning Academy), Hayley Pitman, Sarah Wilkins (Headteacher of St Meriadoc School), Jon-Joe Wilson (St Dominic Church of England Primary School).