Couple receive Cross of St Piran for creation care work

Many amazing people were nominated for a Cross of St Piran this year for their contributions within the Diocese of Truro.

In this series we will be speaking to some of those who received the award.

Andrew and Sally Prince received the Cross of St Piran, Creation Care category, for their work on the St Just in Roseland Interpretive Centre Project.

 

When designing and building the new Discovery Centre at St Just in Roseland Church a key part of the vision was to be kinder to the planet – reducing emissions, lowering carbon, promoting climate action and enhancing biodiversity.

On March 7, Sally and Andrew Prince received the Cross of St Piran for Creation Care, because of their contribution to the project.

Since its beginnings in July 2023 the couple, who both have science backgrounds, wrote funding bids, secured grants, researched, curated, and oversaw the design of the centre’s content; created to celebrate the site’s history, heritage and natural biodiversity.

Sally says: “As Christians we serve God in whatever way we can.

“God has been using all the skills we have developed through our working life. We came to this project with understanding on how to write bids for funding, which is complex, and understanding on how to run the project.”

Work on the centre, coordinated by Andrew, was completed within 12 months, and the pair are keen to point out many others were also involved in helping it come to fruition.

“It is not just us,” Andrew says. “We started the project, but other people have been very much involved as well – planting, researching and helping with content design, producing bird and bat boxes and creating insect hotels.”

The pair, who both have a faith in Jesus, strongly believe in the importance of caring for creation.

Andrew and Sally bought their house in St Mawes 24 years ago. Sally says learning about becoming eco-friendly started at home.

“It began with understanding the importance of recycling about 20 years ago,” she explains. “Then we became more aware of the issues in the context of our home and what we could do. We got rid of the oil boiler and now have a heat pump, solar panels and water butts, so we are able to speak from our own experience.

“We are very keen on being aware of, and caring for, creation. We are God’s stewards of everything in nature.”

Andrew, who spent his youth in Cornwall, says: “I have always been very interested in animals. I remember meeting a dolphin in the Helford River. I was playing with him for an hour and a half.

“Thinking of that experience made me angry about the amount of plastic we have in the water. I feel it is absolutely essential to keep our water clean.”

The awards nomination citation reads: “This project would not have been possible without Andrew and Sally’s energy, commitment and persistence, alongside the invaluable contribution of community volunteers.”

Sally adds: “I take my hat off to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) who believed in us and allowed the project to go forward. They were incredibly helpful.

“Cornwall Council have also been supportive – we could never have done this without its assistance and funding.”

Andrew, church treasurer since 2021, explains: “The project has also strengthened our church community. New volunteers have come forward, pride in the church has grown, and engagement has deepened beyond Sunday worship.

“There is a renewed sense of shared responsibility and commitment to the ongoing life of the church”.

He reports an increase in visitor numbers since the project’s completion, and a rise in donations.

For more information about the St Just-in-Roseland Church project visit: www.trurodiocese.org.uk