The Benefice of the Atlantic Coast Cluster.
The Cluster was formed around nine years ago when the bishop declared that two benefices should be joined, serving a population of over fifteen thousand parishioners. Since then there has been an Oversight Minister in place to help the Cluster work together and encourage the ministry of each church. Projects such as Open the Book, Memory Café, Slurps and Burps, NHS Hub are all run with a mixture of volunteers from across the Cluster.
All our churches share a Celtic heritage, and we have one of the earliest Christian buildings in Britain, St Piran’s Oratory, in the sands of Perranzabuloe. The oratory was once lost to the dunes but is now uncovered and a site for pilgrimage. It also hosts St Piran’s Day celebrations. We are part of the Cornish Celtic Way, a pilgrimage route linking Celtic saints, from St Germans to Marazion. Many people walk this route, and St Carantoc, St Michael’s and St Agnes provide simple accommodation to the pilgrims. This rich history is an important attraction for visitors from within and outside the county.
We have a Cluster choir which grew from an existing Benefice choir which attracts members from most of the churches. The Cluster choir sings Choral Evensong every month at St Piran’s, and at other special services. St Agnes has a choir and both choirs join together from time to time and offer their services for weddings.
All our churches have an open church policy, enabling people to come in and look around or simply to come to find peace.
We have a cluster administrator who manages the bookings for baptisms and weddings and produces the monthly service rota as well as producing a weekly pew sheet.
The Cluster is committed to the diocesan safeguarding policy and has three safeguarding officers in place across the churches. It is also committed to the achievement of Net Zero in all our church buildings by 2030.
The Cluster is part of the Diocese of Truro and in the Deanery of Pydar.
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