St SYMPHORIAN’S CHURCH, VERYAN
Christianity came to Cornwall in the 5th and 6th centuries when Celtic missionaries came from Wales and Ireland to found centres of worship.
Veryan church, however, appears to be dedicated to a French martyr, St Symphorian, though the remains of at least one Celtic cross can be seen.
The church contains some Norman features, the carved faces on the west porch, for example. Some doorway arches and windows are probably 13th century, the arcade of pillars fourteenth, while the font is a mediaeval copy of a Norman design. Three of the present ring of six bells were installed in the 18th century, the remaining three being added in the 1890s. They are rung regularly for services. The organ dates from 1913 and the attractive embroidered kneelers were worked by members of the congregation during the 1980s.
“Welcome to Veryan parish church at the centre of the parish; its door is open to everyone, young and old, who is seeking God. Its font has washed generation after generation of Veryan people as members of Christ and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. Its altar has witnessed for centuries the thanksgivings of the good souls of the parish and fed them on their pilgrimage. Christenings, confirmations, weddings and burials have all taken place here, in Cornish, in Latin and now in English.”
The Eucharist of the Anglican Church is celebrated on Sundays: sung at 11.00am on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays with Hymns Old and New; the Revised Common Lectionary (mostly NRSV) is followed at all services.
On the second Sunday there is a Family Service at 11.00am and Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer is celebrated at 9.00am on the second and fifth Sundays.
Holy Communion is offered to all the baptised People of God who are communicants or who are (in Cranmer’s phrase) ready and desirous to be confirmed.
Churchwardens: Mr David Elliott.
Organist: Mrs Joyce Goldie
Coffee and Chat
After every Sunday 11.00am service coffee and biscuits are served in the church; this is a popular meeting point, so do come and join in and meet people.
Church Redecoration
The current Quinquennial report on church fabric shows this ancient building to be in a generally good state of repair, other than the windows.
However, the windows are in need of major maintenance as the lead and glass are deteriorating rapidly, the lead in particular is reaching the end of its effective life. A programme of restoration has already been put in hand but will, inevitably, be expensive, probably in the region of £33,000, so this will almost certainly have to be completed over a period of time, depending on our ability to raise the necessary funds. Full details of the restorations, including pictures and costs per window, are on show in the church.
Parish Church History
A new History of Veryan Parish Church is now available, consisting of 36 pages and including many illustrations. The History may be obtained at the church or from Christine Edwards (501727) for the lowly sum of £2.50 per copy (£3 by post), the proceeds going towards the church running expenses.
Roseland Choir
Choirs are fun yet they seem to be out of fashion these days. For a number of years Veryan had an excellent small choir which sang on Sundays but this has gradually folded.
Father Doug, at Veryan, is keen to restart a choir, this time a Roseland choir which could sing at our different Roseland churches.
We have a volunteer choirmaster and Veryan church has a supply of very singable and tuneful choir music. It would be marvellous to reform a choir and anyone interested in joining is asked to contact Fr Doug on 01872 501618.