News


The Camborne / Redruth / Hayle Gazette April 2017


13


People of faith receive St Piran’s Day honour


JAN Townend and husband David, right, from Illogan, receiving their Cross of St Piran award from the Bishop of St Germans, the Rt Rev Christopher Goldsmith, for their work with mothers in Tanzania


PEOPLE who have dedicated their lives to carrying out Christian work in their com- munities have been hon- oured with the Cross of St Pi- ran.


The award recognises lay people across Cornwall who have given time to their churches in a wide variety of ways. Among those to re- ceive it this year were an aid worker, an environmental campaigner, and a church or- ganist.


At Camborne Parish Church, there ‘isn’t much that Susan Godolphin doesn’t do’ say her colleagues. As a Reader, children’s worker, office assistant and chaplain, Susan is always busy – but she credits God, rather than herself. ‘When people comment on how busy I am, I feel a bit of


a fraud,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t do half the things I do if God didn’t help me, give me the energy, the words or the di- rection.’


In addition to her full role as Reader, Susan leads fu- neral services and baptisms and makes house visits, tak- ing communion to the house- bound.


She is Captain of the local Girls Brigade and has built a great rapport with schools and nurseries in the area.


Calling


Susan’s latest calling has been to found a lunch club, bringing together women of the church who are on their own for whatever reason. The experiences of Illogan couple David and Jan Tow- nend are proof that ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow’.


The couple were working as teacher-trainers in Tanza- nia when they realised that the mothers they met were not speaking to their young babies.


Finding this shocking, the couple discovered that par- ents in Tanzania only begin talking to their infants when the babies themselves first speak.


Jan and David wondered if what they observed could be a cause of poor literacy rates in the country.


They began a pilot project with families in Mvuni, the community in which they had first lived. ‘We knew two families there, and the people knew and trusted us,’ said Jan. ‘We trained a small group


of 15 mothers to talk to their babies and make toys out of


the things they had. As the babies responded by smiling and making sounds, the mothers came to see them as lovely, intelligent little peo- ple.’


The original group of 15 mothers spread the word to their sisters and neighbours, and six months later there were 45 in the group.


Funding


The project is now receiv- ing international funding – and is beginning to be rolled out in developing countries all around the world.


Meanwhile, Jan and David’s fellow parishioners in Cornwall have supported the project – and a connec- tion has been forged between the parish of St Illogan and St Andrew’s Church in Mvuni, Tanzania.


ALSO seen receiving a Cross of St Piran award from the Bishop of St German is Camborne Parish Church Reader Susan Godolphin, who is also a children’s worker, office assistant and chaplain


Michael is club’s new winner of four wood singles bowling trophy


TROON Short Mat Bowling Club have held their 2017 four wood sin- gles championship at Troon Church Hall.


Bowling began early in the morn- ing with the majority of club mem- bers taking part. After a full day’s bowling, the keenly-contested final was between Michael Richards and Brian Rogers.


Michael eventually took control of the game and became Club Cham- pion for the second time. Club captain Wendy Penberthy,


who was last year’s winner, pre- sented the Una Prideaux Cup to Michael and thanked all the contes- tants who had entered the competi- tion and also expressed her grati- tude to them for having made it such an enjoyable event. Wendy added that short mat bowl- ing appeals to all age groups. If any Gazette readers are interested in tak- ing up the sport, or would like more information, they can telephone Alan on 01209 712638 or send an email to aljan@talktalk.net


SEEN from left are Troon Short Mat Bowling Club 2017 Una Prideaux Cup winner Michael Roberts, club captain Wendy Penberthy and runner-up Brian Rogers


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