Fry an Spyrys
Encyclopedia
Fry an Spyrys is a group based in Cornwall
, UK
, who are campaigning for the disestablishment of the Church of England
there. It claims that there is a growing threat of merger between the Truro
and Exeter
dioceses and is campaigning against what it describes as the remorseless drive towards greater centralisation in the Church resulting in less and less local accountability, authority and focus.
In November 2005 Fry an Spyrys released a statement informing local people that the Church of England's General Synod had voted on draft legislation which, if passed by Parliament, would grant it the power to dissolve forcibly the Diocese of Truro
. It added that the Diocese of Truro is the second smallest and there have already been several calls by senior clergy for it to be merged with that of Exeter. If this were to happen, Truro Cathedral
would lose its cathedral status to become just a large parish church and any Bishop of Truro
would be demoted to being an assistant of the Bishop of Exeter
.
Many Christians in Cornwall consider it important that the Church in Cornwall is committed to Cornwall and that means ensuring that the Diocese of Cornwall is not abolished or merged out of existence.
Such matters may seem unimportant to some, but local government reorganisation consultations in the 1970s nearly resulted in Truro losing its city status. It was the defence mounted by the then Bishop of Truro
, Graham Leonard
, which helped save the day. This was based on the argument that cathedrals were always based in cities.
It has also made complaints about such issues as the flying of the St George's Cross
from Cornish churches.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, who are campaigning for the disestablishment of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
there. It claims that there is a growing threat of merger between the Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
and Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
dioceses and is campaigning against what it describes as the remorseless drive towards greater centralisation in the Church resulting in less and less local accountability, authority and focus.
In November 2005 Fry an Spyrys released a statement informing local people that the Church of England's General Synod had voted on draft legislation which, if passed by Parliament, would grant it the power to dissolve forcibly the Diocese of Truro
Diocese of Truro
The Diocese of Truro is a Church of England diocese in the Province of Canterbury.-Geography and history:The diocese's area is that of the county of Cornwall including the Isles of Scilly. It was formed on 15 December 1876 from the Archdeaconry of Cornwall in the Diocese of Exeter, it is thus one...
. It added that the Diocese of Truro is the second smallest and there have already been several calls by senior clergy for it to be merged with that of Exeter. If this were to happen, Truro Cathedral
Truro Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...
would lose its cathedral status to become just a large parish church and any Bishop of Truro
Bishop of Truro
The Bishop of Truro is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Truro in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Cornwall and it is one of the most recently created dioceses of the Church of England...
would be demoted to being an assistant of the Bishop of Exeter
Bishop of Exeter
The Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
.
Many Christians in Cornwall consider it important that the Church in Cornwall is committed to Cornwall and that means ensuring that the Diocese of Cornwall is not abolished or merged out of existence.
Such matters may seem unimportant to some, but local government reorganisation consultations in the 1970s nearly resulted in Truro losing its city status. It was the defence mounted by the then Bishop of Truro
Bishop of Truro
The Bishop of Truro is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Truro in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Cornwall and it is one of the most recently created dioceses of the Church of England...
, Graham Leonard
Graham Leonard
Graham Douglas Leonard KCVO was a British priest. His principal ministry was as a bishop of the Church of England but, after his retirement as the Bishop of London, he became a Roman Catholic, becoming the most senior Anglican cleric to do so since the English Reformation...
, which helped save the day. This was based on the argument that cathedrals were always based in cities.
It has also made complaints about such issues as the flying of the St George's Cross
Flag of England
The Flag of England is the St George's Cross . The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and is one of the earliest known emblems representing England...
from Cornish churches.
See also
- List of topics related to Cornwall
- Cornish nationalism
- Politics of CornwallPolitics of CornwallCornwall is currently administered as a county of South West England whose politics are influenced by a number of issues that make it distinct from the general political scene in the wider UK, and the political trends of neighbouring counties...
- AntidisestablishmentarianismAntidisestablishmentarianismAntidisestablishmentarianism is a political position that originated in 19th-century Britain in opposition to proposals for the disestablishment of the Church of England, that is, to remove the Anglican Church's status as the state church of England, Ireland, and Wales.The establishment was...