AFTER a night of heavy rain, a brisk wind blew away the clouds and spring sunshine broke through to greet the families and friends of this year’s winners of the Cross of St Piran as they gathered at Perranzabuloe Church on Sunday 4 March.

Such were the numbers – there were 27 recipients in all – that two separate services were held – one at 4pm and the other at 6.30pm. And in each instance the church was packed.

The Cross of St Piran Award was inaugurated by Bishop Tim in 2011 in recognition of the outstanding service given by lay people across the Diocese, something that he reminded both congregations.

“This service is a strange amalgam of The Oscars on the one hand and an act of worship on the other,” he said. “It is only right that we should give proper value and worth to the people who are receiving the award … people who don’t generally like to be thanked and who shun the limelight.”

Referring to the Gospel reading from St Matthew 5.13-16, Bishop Tim spoke of the significance of salt and light. “Salt is very interesting,” he noted. “If it is to be of real use in cooking, it has to give its flavour away to enhance the other ingredients of the meal.

“The same applies to those who are receiving the Cross of St Piran today. These are people who have quietly and consistently given – and continue to give – their time, to enhance the lives of other people.”

For the full list of Cross of St Piran’s recipients, click here.

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