An Introduction
to Fry an Spyrys
Fry an Spyrys was established in August 2003 in response to proposals to merge Truro and Exeter dioceses, increasing centralisation seen in the Methodist Church and the signing of the Anglican-Methodist National Covenant for unity after a decision taken on a national (UK) basis.
We believe decisions should no longer be made way over the heads of churches represented in Cornwall, that Cornwall’s Christians should be in control of their own collective affairs and destiny.
Our aims, consequently, are four:
1. To disestablish the Church of England in Cornwall to form a new province of the Anglican Communion – a Church of Cornwall.
2. To secure autonomy for Cornwall’s Methodist District.
3. To see all denominations in Cornwall have full power and authority to enter into their own ecumenical agreements and to decide their own futures together on an all-Cornwall basis.
4. To shift the focus of Cornish ecumenism to uniting the Church in Cornwall alone rather than trying to unify that of the whole UK.
The last time the Church in Cornwall had such full decision-making power and authority was in the 10th Century when it was self-governing, yet in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury. It lost this independence when the Church in Canterbury exerted control over the Celtic Church in Cornwall after Cornwall’s defeat by the Anglo-Saxons.
The intervening centuries have seen a remorseless drive towards greater political and ecclesiastical centralisation. This has led to the current situation where people in peripheral parts of the UK such as Cornwall feel they are ignored, marginalized and powerless, that central institutions are unaccountable, that their history, culture and heritage is considered unimportant, that important decision-making is taking place far above their heads.
The campaign for a Cornish Assembly is a manifestation of this growing feeling, a quest for political power to be devolved to a more local level, empowering our local community once again. Our campaign parallels it within the religious domain.
We believe the reclaiming of freedom of self-government by the Anglican, Methodist and other churches in Cornwall will empower their people, improve local accountability dramatically, defend Cornwall’s unique heritage and territorial integrity, renew such churches spiritually and speed Church unification within Cornwall.
Ecumenism nationally has reached something of an impasse, but Cornwall does not have to wait on the wider UK. Unifying the churches of Cornwall on a Cornwall-wide basis alone would be far simpler than continue with the seemingly impossible quest of trying to unite those of the whole UK. Unification would be far easier to achieve if denominations represented in Cornwall had power and authority to negotiate their own ecumenical agreements amongst themselves, if decisions could be taken more locally. Autonomy for the Anglican and Methodist churches here would allow these two churches to do just this.
This paper focuses more on our first aim – we hope to expand it to include more detail on our other aims in due course.
The basic unit of Church structure is the parish. Parishes are grouped into dioceses under the oversight of a diocesan bishop. He may be assisted by suffragan (assistant) bishops who do not share his territorial responsibility and so do not have a cathedral of their own – there can only be one cathedral in a diocese. Dioceses are part of a province and provinces make up the Anglican Communion. There are 34 provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion as a result of the establishment of the British Empire. Five are in the United Kingdom – the Provinces of York and Canterbury that together make up the Church of England, the Church of Ireland, the Church in Wales and the Episcopal Church of Scotland. Cornwall is the only component nation of the United Kingdom that does not have its own national Anglican Church.
The Diocese of Truro comprises all the parishes in Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly and was established by an Act of Parliament in 1875. Before then, Cornwall was part of the Diocese of Exeter, the Bishop of Exeter having oversight of the Anglican Church in Cornwall. If Truro Diocese were to be reunited with Exeter Diocese, Truro Cathedral would lose its status as a cathedral and the Bishop of Truro would then be a suffragan bishop of Exeter Diocese. Local Church government is by diocesan synods (councils). National Church of England government is by General Synod which meets twice a year.
The Church of England is the only part of the Anglican Communion established in law. Establishment means that its assets are owned by the State, its bishops are appointed by the Prime Minister and it is governed by the Monarch – in reality, by Parliament. 26 bishops of the Church of England sit in the House of Lords by right, but no Catholic ones or non-conformist ministers. Major changes in Church teaching, ministry or structure can only be effected by passing an Act of Parliament. The wealth of the Church of England is controlled by the government-appointed Church Commissioners, a parliamentary committee. The total value of the land, commercial property, bonds and shares held by the Commissioners is a little more than £1.5 billion which enables the Church of England to receive £130 million financial support each year. The Catholic and non-conformist churches do not receive such state funding.
The Anglican Church in Wales was disestablished in 1920 and that in Ireland in 1869. In both cases, this was done because establishment was considered to be unfair as far more people attended the non-conformist churches in Wales and the Catholic Church in Ireland. At the time of the debate about disestablishing the Anglican Church in Wales, there was a similar one in Cornwall. Cornish Liberals argued that the Anglican Church in Cornwall should be disestablished for the same reasons the Church in Wales was disestablished, i.e. that it was a minority church and Cornwall should enjoy the dignity of its own national Church. The establishment of Fry an Spyrys marks the recommencement of that campaign after a gap of some 90 years.
Why disestablish the Church of England in Cornwall?
1. It is only fair. The Church of England is not the only church in Cornwall. There are more people who attend other churches, so it is not fair it alone should receive State funding and a privileged status. Some would argue that, far from giving the Church of England dignity, establishment today is making it look morally shabby.
2. It would aid Church unity. It would be inconceivable for the Methodist Church to unite with an established Church of England. It would mean it would have to assent to State control and enjoy a status and funding denied to its former non-conformist sister churches. Disestablishing the Church of England in Cornwall would aid organic unity with the Methodist Church in Cornwall as it would then be free of the constitutional legal “lumber” holding things back. If Cornwall’s Methodist District were to unite with a disestablished Anglican Church of Cornwall, it would create a church practically the whole of Cornwall could unite behind and a formidable force for good.
3. It would help evangelism. Many people in Cornwall consider Cornwall to be a Celtic nation and therefore see the Church of England in Cornwall as an alien, anglicising church. Historically, the Methodist Church could be said to have a better claim to be the true established church of Cornwall. Many resent the flying of the English flag from church spires and towers, seeing it as a political statement and the Anglican Church as a suppressor of Cornish identity, culture and freedom. Disestablishment in Wales led to a religious revival in the Anglican Church there as people were able to feel proud of it and identify with it more. Disestablishment would mean all the people of Cornwall would be able to take pride in what would be their church and the mission of the Church would be aided.
4. The Diocese of Truro is under grave threat of being forcibly reunited with the Diocese of Exeter. This would mean the Bishop of Exeter would have oversight of the Anglican Church in Cornwall, the focus of control and administration would be in Exeter, and Truro Cathedral would become an ordinary parish church, losing its Dean and Chapter. The Church of England is preparing draft legislation that should give its General Synod the power to vote a diocese out of existence and to suspend bishoprics in about a year from now. Currently, this could only be done by passing an Act of Parliament. It is highly unlikely a General Synod meeting in London and keen to cut costs would take any notice of Cornish identity. Senior clergy have been reported as saying Truro Diocese should be absorbed into Exeter Diocese to save money. Disestablishment would remove this threat forever.
The Anglican Church in Wales was the last to be disestablished. An Act of Parliament was passed which set a date for disestablishment. From this date, its bishops lost their automatic right to sit in the Lords, Parliament would no longer govern it and a temporary commission was set up. This commission lasted three years and had power to transfer ownership of Welsh churches to the new Church in Wales. Only £ 1 million of financial assets were allowed to be transferred, representing an effective drop in endowment to one third of that prior to disestablishment. However, greater enthusiasm for the church led to much of this funding shortfall being made up from private donations.
Today, disestablishing the Church of England in Cornwall would require a similar act of Parliament. This can only be done by a bill being presented to Parliament by General Synod, the government or by an MP in a private members bill. If General Synod presents it, the bill cannot be altered – it must be voted on, for or against, as it stands.
Either the Diocese of Truro must be persuaded to ask the Church of England’s General Synod to present such a bill or an MP would need to be. It is highly unlikely the government would be prepared to present such a bill. If General Synod refused, the Diocese of Truro could still ask Cornwall’s MPs to present a bill on its behalf. While the Diocese of Truro may presently regard supporting disestablishment as akin to turkeys voting to bring Christmas forward, a growing threat of forcible merger with the Diocese of Exeter and Truro Cathedral losing its status may lead to a change of heart.
The Church of England, when created out of the Catholic Church in the Reformation in 1534, was endowed. This means the State took possession of church wealth but allowed the Church of England to be financially supported. Only one church in England and Wales was allowed, the Church of England, others being forcibly repressed. However, over time, the Roman Catholic and non-conforming churches were able to establish themselves despite repression and lack of State financial support.
Some would argue that if the Church of England in Cornwall were to disestablish, it should be denied continuing State financial support. Others would see partial endowment as fair as seen in the Church in Wales. A fair financial settlement would need to be agreed before disestablishment.
The Fry an Spyrys national campaign committee meets under the chairmanship of Dr Garry Tregidga of the Institute of Cornish Studies. We are all Christians and start and end our meetings with prayer. We do not seek to harm our Cornish Church, only to empower, reform, unite and renew it. Our supporter base is broad, including politicians of many parties, Christians of different denominations and people from other Celtic nations and the Cornish Diaspora.
This committee is mainly made up of people of influence and high standing in the Cornish community – mayors, councillors, bards and academics. We are all united in our belief:
Cornwall must not be diminished any
further. She should be granted institutions that empower her people and which
respect her unique identity, dignity and heritage.
A Church of Cornwall is one, a
self-governing Methodist District of Cornwall another.
You can find out more about us and join Fry an Spyrys by visiting our website at www.freethespirit.org.uk. Alternatively, write to 6, Alma Terrace, Penzance TR18 2BY.
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