As part of the Hawker 150 Celebrations we had a new road sign installed. Today we took some photos, also featuring some of the Parishioners who made it happen.

Left to right: Alan Rowland - David Miles - Jonathan Hobbs.

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Hawker Sesquicentennial

This year is the 150th, sesquicentennial, anniversary of the death of Robert Stephen Hawker.

He was a well-known local vicar and national celebrity. A poet, antiquarian and writer; he was vicar of Morwenstow from 1834 until his death in 1875.

The parishioners of Morwenstow are celebrating this anniversary with a range of events.

The first event was a St Piran’s day service at 3pm on 5th March in the parish church of St John and St Morwenna at Morwenstow. It is also the 200th anniversary of Hawker’s writing of Trelawny, or Song of the Western Men. This Cornish anthem was written by him when sitting under a “stag-horned oak in Bevil’s walk” in Stowe Wood.

Further events are planned during the year culminating in a display of Hawker’s life illustrated with items from the extensive collection of Hawkeriana amassed by the late Jill Wellby. The display will take place during the weekend of 16th to 17th August in Morwenstow Community Centre at Shop.

The final event on the 5th October will be a traditional Harvest Festival service in the parish church followed by a Harvest Lunch in the Community Centre. Hawker is remembered for re-introducing the Harvest Festival in 1843 and since adopted throughout the Church of England.

This sign erected on the road from the A39 to Shop is a pointer to both the events and the parish. It was funded and supported by Morwenstow Renewable Energy Association, under whose blades it stands and Morwenstow Parish Council whose logo, along with St Piran’s flag and Hawker’s signature are illustrated on it. Thanks also go to Oliver Jones of Cornwall Council Highways for arranging installation free of charge.