One of the “Peel” districts in the neighbourhood of Truro, which I had designed, called Baldhu, was on the Earl of Falmouth’s estate:  it came to his Lordship’s mind to take an interest in this desolate spot; so he bought the patronage from the commissioners, and then offered it to me, to Be made into a new parish.  This I accepted, with many thanks, and began immediately to dream about my plans for the future.

It was a time of great distress in that place amongst the tenants, on account of the failure of the potato crop; so his lordship employed some hundreds of the men in breaking up the barren croft for planting trees; there he gave me a good central site for a church.

Now I made up my mind to have everything perfect, and with my own rules and regulations, my surpliced choir, churchwardens, and frequent services, all after my own heart, it could scarcely fall to be otherwise.  I thought that having free scope, mine should be a model place.  The district was in a barren part of a large palish; three thousand souls had been assigned to me; and I was to go and civilize them, build my church, school-house, and, indeed, establish everything that was necessary.

To begin with, I took a room which was used for a village school in the week, and for a service on Sunday.  This succeeded so well, that in a few months I determined to enlarge the building in which we assembled, as speedily as possible.  Having made all necessary plans, and procured stones, timber, and slate, we commenced operations at five o’clock one Monday morning, and by Saturday night had a chancel (which I thought most necessary) ready for Sunday use!

All the world came to see this sudden erection.  This temporary church now held three hundred people; and with the addition of a new choir and hearty service, it was a great success, or, at least, so I imagined, for in those days I did not look for more.

I entered upon my work here with renewed energy and sanguine hope.  I had, of course, gained more experience in the various duties of my ministry, and had, moreover, a clearer perception, as I thought, how sacramental teaching, under the authority of the Church, ought to work.  I preached on holy living, not conversion, for as yet I knew nothing about the latter.

In 1847, I went on a visit to a very remarkable man, who had a great effect upon me in many ways.  He was the Rev. Robert Hawker, of Morwenstow, in the extreme north of Cornwall.*

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* See his “Life,” by Rev. Baring Gould.
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This friend was a poet, and a High Churchman, from whom I learned many practical lessons.  He was a man who prayed, and expected an answer; he had a wonderful perception for realizing unseen things, and took Scripture literally, with startling effect.  He certainly was most eccentric in many of his ways; but there was a reality and straightforwardness about him which charmed me very much; and I was the more drawn to him, from the interest he took in me and my work.