A woman from the diocese has been recognised with a special award in thanks for her work with the Prayer Book Society.

Kerstin Lewis, from Advent, is the Secretary of the Prayer Book Society (PBS), Truro Branch, and has worked for the last 10 years promoting and assisting the use of the Book of Common Prayer in worship and helps clergy to make use it in their regular services.

The Kilmister Award, given to lay people who make an outstanding voluntary contribution to the life of the Prayer Book Society, was presented to Kerstin at the PBS conference in Cirencester.

iStock photo credit: ChristianChan

She said: “It was a tremendous honour to receive the award. It was in recognition of the work I have done and continue to do in the diocese.

“I am still in shock to have received it.

“I get great satisfaction from what I do, and I particularly love the ritual, liturgy and the language of the Book of Common Prayer.”

She said the book is very important to all English speaking people, along with the King James Bible and the works of Shakespeare and the Society has royal patronage.

Kerstin added she was the only person in Cornwall to have been given the award this year.

“It is a great honour for me and a huge honour for the Prayer Book Society in Truro,” she said. “Also, for the diocese where the Book of Common Prayer is largely used – so it is recognition for that as well.”

The Kilmister Award is a round medal about 10 centimetres in diameter that Kerstin can wear round her neck to formal occasions. She was also given a badge which she can wear on her collar.

For more information about the work of the Prayer Book Society visit: https://www.pbs.org.uk/