St Ia's Church

One aspect of moving to Cornwall last October that I am thoroughly enjoying is travelling around the county and learning about Cornish life. To say Cornwall is a beautiful place is an understatement! I am particularly enamoured of the very many churches and the long-lived presence of artists over centuries. For most of my life, I have been obsessed with art and architecture of every style and age. St Ia’s Church in St Ives is a place that I first visited about 20 years ago and have been back to several times since moving here. I love the church building, in particular the way the columns holding up the great barrel roof lean either way as if taking the weight of the world on their shoulders. In the Lady Chapel, there is a stone Madonna and Child by one of my favourite sculptors, Barbara Hepworth. I have loved this sculpture for years. So, to not only be in a church building I love, not only to gaze once again at this amazing Madonna and Child but to be amongst the audience for the choir concert that took place there on Friday with our boy choristers, was simply a real treat. Great music, a great location and a great audience who clearly appreciated the choir making their way down to St Ives. The boy choristers always impress me. They arrive at the cathedral every morning at 08:00 for rehearsals, often laden down with sports bags and school bags, they work hard for an hour and then dash off to school. Then, after school, they reappear in readiness for Evensong, and help lead the worship of God. No doubt, once they get home they then focus on their homework! I am grateful to them for their commitment, dedication and hard work.

Thank you.

Dean Simon Robinson