A service of rededication took place in St Mary’s Aisle of Truro Cathedral on Friday.
The only remaining part of St Mary’s Parish Church, which preceded the cathedral, the aisle still functions as the parish church for Truro city centre and is the only one within a cathedral in England.
However, it had been closed since May 2023 following major repairs to combat water ingress, which threatened the interior walls and the historic pipe organ.
As part of the restoration work, the Delabole slate roof has been made watertight, the parquet floors restored and cleaned, and every chair leg fitted with rubber tips to avoid further damage.
Truro’s town crier, Lionel Knight, rang his bell and proclaimed the aisle reopen. There followed an hour-long holy communion service led by the Rt Revd Graham James, honorary assistant bishop to the Diocese of Truro.
Dean Simon Robinson described the moment as “tremendous”.
He added: “St Mary’s Aisle is such a historic and much-loved part of the cathedral. To have it restored and redecorated, with no water pouring through the roof, is a real joy.
“To see it rededicated to the worship of God before such a large congregation confirms what an important place this is.”
Truro mayor Cllr Carol Swain wore the mayoral chain that made its debut at the dedication of the cathedral’s foundation stone in 1880.
“I’m delighted the aisle is fit for use again,” she said. “It has been the cornerstone of worship for 900 years, longer than the cathedral itself, which is why it’s important to keep it in good condition. It represents the history of Truro in a way the comparatively new cathedral can’t.
“It has been a great privilege to have been here today to be part of the rededication and to represent the people of Truro - as well as those mayors that went before me and those who will come after.”
Mayoress Sarah Douglas-Martin said: “I have sat in St Mary’s Aisle when I needed a moment of quiet. They leave you to reconnect yourself, and you leave feeling filled up. It was wonderful to be part of something so special today.”
Mard Sellwood is a cathedral server and a member of the PCC. “It was lovely to see it looking so smart again. It was especially nice to look up at the stained glass windows, which look cleaner now than they have in a long time.”
A special celebration, with free children’s activities, will take place this Saturday from noon to 3pm.
Funding partners include the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust, Friends of Truro Cathedral, the Duke of Cornwall’s Benevolent Fund, the HB Allen Charitable Trust, the Dulverton Trust, the Bernard Sunley Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation and the Garfield Weston Foundation.