Cornwall Pride
As the Dean of Truro Cathedral my thoughts and very best wishes are with Cornwall Pride this Saturday for the Pride celebrations in Truro. Since my arrival here some 9 months ago, it has been good to begin to get to know some of the organisers from Cornwall Pride. I look forward to working with them in the coming years and plans are underway for a number of events. As I stated in my recent vlog when I was announced as the new Dean, I am committed to my belief that Truro Cathedral is here for everyone who lives, works and visits Cornwall. Working with my colleagues and the very many people for whom Truro Cathedral is so important, I will do everything that I can to ensure that the cathedral grows as a place for the whole of the Cornish community.
In January of this year, the Church of England issued an apology for their treatment of LGBTQI+ people. It stated: We want to apologise for the ways in which the Church of England has treated LGBTQI+ people – both those who worship in our churches and those who do not. For the times we have rejected or excluded you, and those you love, we are deeply sorry. The occasions on which you have received a hostile and homophobic response in our churches are shameful and for this, we repent. As we have listened, we have been told time and time again how we have failed LGBTQI+ people. We have not loved you as God loves you, and that is profoundly wrong. We affirm, publicly and unequivocally, that LGBTQI+ people are welcome and valued: we are all children of God.
I have spent my life promoting inclusion and so was very pleased that the Church of England issued this apology. As a Headteacher for nearly 14 years, I always tried my very best to give every child who came to the school a school place, no matter what their needs. I see inclusion as a hugely important aspect of all our lives. My life and work in the Church of England is no different and I am committed to creating an inclusive church, one in which the beauty of human diversity is welcomed. My commitment to inclusion is key to my ministry here in Cornwall as the Dean of the cathedral.
My very best wishes to Cornwall Pride 2023.
Dean Simon.
To find out more about Cornwall Pride visit their website: