St Sampson’s church bells were taken down in 2023 for safety reasons but had been silent for many years before that - hopefully they won't be silent for much longer! Can you help bring them home?Four of the bells date from 1684 and, sadly, expert advice is that they are too thin to be safely tuned without cracking and even if attempted, sympathetic corrective tuning would not be possible. They will therefore be re-hung for static chiming.The bells are currently being stored at Taylors Bellfounders in Leiciester. We need to raise £25,000 then we can instruct Taylors to begin the restoration process and bring them back to chime out across the parish once again. We need your help. We have raised £5,000 Can you help us to raise the remaining £20,000? We are applying for grants, but need match funding. For more information and to donate any amount, big or small, follow this link; https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/stsampsonschurchbells...Thank You! - Whether you can donate, or simply spread the word.Join us in preserving this treasured piece of our heritage. #SaveOurBells #StSampsonsChurch #CommunityFundraising #HistoricPreservationTo read the full article: https://www.callingtoncluster.org.uk/To read about the wonderful folk at Taylors Bell Foundry https://www.taylorbells.co.uk/
Rev Andy Atkins and a group of congregation members travelled to St Piran's Church at Perranzabuloe on Saturday 8th March to support Reader and Local Lay Leader, Judith Ayers as she was presented with the Cross of St Piran for her work at St Sampson's. Judith's colleague and co-project leader of the St Sampson's Unlocked project, Miranda Lawrance-Owen, said "We are all delighted for Judith. I can't imagine anyone who deserves this award more. If it wasn't for Judith's hard work and dedication I doubt that St Sampson's would be the thriving church it is today and I am sure we would not be able to hold a service every Sunday". The official citation reads: "Judith’s love for the church, for which she labours tirelessly and unselfishly, emboldens faith in Christ and the faith of all those she inspires. Her kindness to all is only matched by her ceaseless energy and everyday actions to encourage us all to Christ. Judith finds the most unexpected ways to bring people closer to Christ. She finds and shares God’s hand in almost everything; in the living churchyard project, the bats in the church, the changing of the seasons, music and the fabric and history of the church building itself. Judith was a big part of the inspiration which launched the St Sampson’s unlocked project, which has always been a mission project, and she has continued to be a driving force as it progresses. Judith has been responsible for worship at St Sampson’s (under the oversight of the various Rectors of the Callington Cluster) for many years, leading the worship team since 2018 and ensuring that weekly Sunday worship has continued. All the above, plus the warmth of welcome and tangible sense of community when people visit any of the events at St Sampsons, are a tribute to Judith’s passion, faith, leadership and hard work. This award recognises Judith for the Christian life that she lives and for all her many contributions to the Church and our parish community."
