Radio, Film and Television
In a Diocese which covers all of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and a group of parishes on the Devon border, there are always people seeking suitable locations for filming, or churches and other venues with a good acoustic or ambience for concerts or radio broadcasts. The Communications Officer is always happy to offer advice to directors, researchers and companies wanting to make programmes in, or about Cornwall. His advice is also always given to parishes before any contractual agreements are signed, or fees agreed.
Frequently location filming is done in Cornwall, even if the original story might have suggested southern Ireland, Wales or even further afield! Often short scenes in major films or series involve a church wedding, or funeral, and we are able to offer the kind of advice which avoids unnecessary delay, or inaccurate depiction of the Church of England or its clergy, Church Council members, organists or musicians. Our Churches have been pleased to be used in costume dramas, historical romances, thrillers and, most recently, the Doc Martin TV series, starring Martin Clunes.
Truro Cathedral is an increasingly sought-after setting for Choral Evensong, which is regularly broadcast from the city. Songs of Praise recorded three programmes at the Cathedral and a number of Cornish locations during 2008, and it is greatly to the credit of Christopher Gray, the Cathedral's Director of Music, and his predecessor Robert Sharpe, that Truro Cathedral Choir so regularly feature in BBC programmes on both radio and television, including notably a History of Carols broadcast on Christmas Day 2008.
The music Festivals, held both at Easter and in the summer at St Endellion Church in north Cornwall attract world-wide attention and produce music of the very highest standard. St Endellion, like the Cathedral, is also used for broadcast evensong, and a number of other Cornish churches are exploring the possibilities of concert broadcasts. There are a number of choirs and orchestras, particularly involving young people, performing in Cornwall and making full use of churches as ideal concert venues. Concerts attract capacity audiences for musical programmes ranging from Gospel choirs to oratorio, brass band to string quartets, woodwind to junk band.
For advice on venues, requests for film locations, consent to film, contract details please click here to send an email to the Communications Officer.
The late Sir John Betjeman, a frequent worshipper wrote:
"Inside, the church gives the impression that it goes on praying night and day, whether there are people in it or not"
