The Right Reverend Bill Ind

Lis Escop, Feock, Truro, Cornwall TR3 6QQ

Tel:+44 (0)1872 862657 Fax:+44 (0)1872 862037

Email: bishop@truro.anglican.org

Welcome to Truro Diocese.

The Diocese covers the whole of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and two little parishes in Devon on the other side of the river Tamar.

The Diocese was re-founded in 1877, when it was carved out of the Diocese of Exeter, but the Christian faith has been alive and well here since at least the fourth century AD - more than 100 years before there was an Archbishop of Canterbury!

Many of our communities, as well as the parish churches, bear a Celtic saint's name, which is a reminder of the links with other Celtic countries, especially Ireland, Wales, and above all Brittany. For many, of course, Cornwall is a place associated with holidays, a land of dramatic coastline with long sandy beach line, cliffs and rolling surf, as well as clotted cream and pasties. It is also famous, of course, for its art and music.

There is though enough evidence all over the landscape of a quite different kind, a reminder that Cornwall was once one of the earliest homes of the industrial revolution. Tin and copper has been mined here for centuries, and china clay is still being taken out in great quantities. However, tin mining is now hanging on in just one mine and many less people are employed in china clay than they used to be. There are also major difficulties in two of the other traditional industries - fishing and farming - and it is because of this that Cornwall is now, according to many economic indices, the poorest part of Britain and this is particularly obvious in the mining areas. Alongside this though there is considerable enterprise supported by the traditional resilience of Cornish people. We hope that the revolution in information and technology will be a help to us as new firms and businesses are established here.

The Diocese of Truro is involved directly and indirectly through its Board of Social Responsibility and in the life of its parishes in tackling some of the economic problems that Cornwall is wrestling with and works closely with statutory and voluntary agencies.

Our 313 church buildings are visible signs of our involvement and our commitment to serve all the people of Cornwall and work with all men and women of goodwill. We believe that the worship offered in these buildings is to be seen as a source of energy, inspiration and hope in every community.

+ William Truro