Sunday 4th September, at St Mylor Church, will be the last Service presided over by Reverend Amanda Evans as interim priest-in-charge of St Gluvias and St Mylor. This service will be attended by worshippers from the two parishes to join together and say farewell.
Amanda was first introduced to the members of St Gluvias church on 30th June 2020 when she was installed as our interim Priest-in-Charge. Due to the Pandemic, life was very different at that time, we were just coming out of ‘lockdown’ and our services and meetings had all been held via zoom. Churches were following all the Government regulations and had been closed for months. Finally however, we were able to meet with Amanda personally on 26th July at a church service at St Gluvias.
To start a new job in these circumstances was extremely difficult as regulations pertaining to Covid still applied, but over the past two years Amanda has become involved with the congregation gradually returning to church, and the reintroduction of the various rites and rituals involved with our services. Amanda has persevered, and along with helping St. Gluvias return to some sort of normality has also become greatly involved with ‘Transforming Mission’ and ‘Leading Your Church into Growth’. Being an integral member of one of the focus groups ‘Poor and Marginalised’, Amanda has been instrumental in the ideas and help needed to support people in the community.
Amanda also set up the ‘Little Sparks’ toddler group last year which has been extremely successful. Allowing parents with their toddlers to enjoy several hours every Thursday morning in the Community hall. With toys, activities and refreshments provided by Amanda and her helpers, this has given mothers (especially) time to relax and make friendships, and also for many toddlers at the start, to learn how to socialise with other children after a long period of being in ‘shut down’. We will all miss Amanda when restarting in September. Amanda has also forged close links with the Falmouth Food Co-op group in Love Lane, as well as supporting groups such as the Olive Branch Community Cafe at St Gluvias Community Hall. As Amanda says, in a time where attendances in Church are falling, we need to be able to take the Church and the Lord’s guidance to people in different ways.
This year has been extremely difficult for Amanda and her family, they have had to cope with illness and the loss of much loved family members. Amanda has also suffered personal illness, and has now decided to take some time away with her husband John and spend some months traveling in their motorhome across Europe. Eventually Amanda hopes to be involved in ‘transforming mission’ and we wish her and John well, plenty of happy and safe journeys, and thank her for the past two years at St Gluvias Church.
“The Lord will protect you from all evil; God will protect your very life. The
Lord will protect you on your journeys whether going or coming from now
until forever from now” Psalm 121: 7-8
A. Jones & S. Bond
Photo: ‘Little Sparks’ Toddler Group
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