Welcome to our ancient churches…

Click on the cross to go to the church…

X	Holy Trinity, Much Wenlock	X	All Saints, Berrington	X	St John the Baptist, Church Preen
X	Holy Trinity, Bourton	X	St Margaret, Betton Strange	X	St Mary, Harley
X	St Peter, Easthope	X	Christ Church, Cressage	X	St John the Baptist, Hughley
X	St James, Shipton	X	St Peter, Cound	X	St John the Baptist, Kenley
X	St Michael and All Angels, Stanton Long	X	St Peter and St Paul, Sheinton

The churches are served by the Wenlock Team Ministry of two Priests and two Readers, with the support of retired clergy and a Reader Emeritus who are Associates of the Team. You’re welcome at all the services in our churches (click for details of Service Times). Many of our churches are also open for visitors at other times.

Holy Trinity, Much Wenlock

Holy Trinity, Much Wenlock is a place made sacred by lives and prayers for more than 1300 years. The first church on this site was Anglo-Saxon, built probably about AD680.

It’s open for visitors during the day for private prayer and for services and the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the Lady Chapel.

The parish priest and Team Rector of the Wenlock Team is Revd Stephen Lowe

The churchwardens are Brendon Quinn (( 01952 727632) and Val Roberts (( 01952 727047)

You’ll find lots more information about Holy Trinity, Much Wenlock at: http://www.muchwenlockchurch.co.uk/

Holy Trinity, Bourton

Holy Trinity, Bourton has been a chapelry within the parish of Much Wenlock since the Middle Ages and shares its dedication to the Trinity.

Its small but active congregation has recently spent much time and effort in refurbishing the interior.

The parish priest is Revd Stephen Lowe

The churchwardens are Mrs Carallyn Benbow (( 01746 785218), Mrs Ann Craig (( 01952 727229) and Mrs Sally Grant (( 01952 510043)

St Mary, Harley

The earliest part of this church is the tower. The lower part of it dates from the 13th century. The church itself was rebuilt in the 19th century and now houses a dedicated congregation from the village and farther afield. The is a summer daytime opening schedule.

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwardens are Paul Trenberth (( 01952 510547)

St John the Baptist, Hughley

The church dates from the 13th century. A E Housman included a reference to its “spire” in his poem “A Shropshire Lad” (although the purists amongst you will recognise that it doesn’t actually have one!):

“The vane on Hughley Steeple

Veers bright, a far known sign,

And there lie Hughley people,

And there lie friends of mine.

Tall in their midst the tower

Divides the shade and sun,

And the clock strikes the hour

And tells the time to none…”

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwarden is Michael Sagar (( 01746 785637)

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All Saints, Berrington

Parts of this ancient church date from the 13^th century but it’s thought that there has been worship on this site since Saxon times. A church is recorded here in the Domesday Book.

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwardens are Mr Richard Ward (( 01743 761044)
and Mr Mark Harris (( 01743 761642)

St Margaret, Betton Strange

Originally Betton Strange was part of the parish of St Chad in Shrewsbury but in 1858 this church was built to serve the local community. Access to the church is on foot along a few hundred yards of woodland footpath. The church is gas lit. It is normally locked.

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwardens are those of Berrington above, but a local contact is Mr Hugh Coggins ((01743 356594)

Christ Church, Cressage

The ancient church in Cressage was a chapelry of Cound and was dedicated to St Sampson. Its position close to the river made it liable to flooding and so in 1841 it was replaced by this present building sited somewhat farther from the water. The exact whereabouts of the original church are lost. The church is normally locked.

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwardens are Joost Aartse-Tuyn (( 01952 510487)
and Mr Jim Somervell (( 01952 510458)

St Peter, Cound

Dedicated to St Peter because of its mediaeval associations with the Abbey of St Peter in Shrewsbury, the building dates primarily from the13th century. In the 19th century parts were rebuilt in response to the great Anglo Catholic revival. The church is normally locked.

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwardens are Ann Cooke (( 01952 510388) and John Cuffley (( 01743 761332)

SS Peter and Paul, Sheinton

Standing high on a natural mound overlooking the Severn valley this mediaeval church was much restored and altered in the 19th century.

For details of local history project click on
www.sheinton.org.uk

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwarden is Mr Michael Innes (( 01952 510878)

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St John the Baptist, Church Preen

Another 13th century church, this was built originally as a cell of Wenlock Priory. It adjoins the Manor House that developed as part of the estates of the Prior of Wenlock. The ancient yew tree you can see here in the churchyard dates from the 7th century – around the time of the foundation of the Abbey at Wenlock and also the creation of Hereford diocese.

As a millennium project, members of the congregation undertook the construction of a new lych gate to the churchyard. Worked in oak with traditional tools it is a triumph of skill and craftsmanship and bears testimony to the long hours of care and commitment that went into its creation.

The glorious gardens of adjacent Preen Manor are open to visitors several times during the year as part of the National Gardens scheme and are well worth a visit.

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwarden is Michael Tudor (( 01694 771610)
and Mrs Ann Trevor-Jones (( 01694 771207)

St Peter, Easthope

In 1923 the mediaeval church of Easthope was badly damaged by fire. The village undertook the rebuilding in much the same style as the original and today the pretty church stands as a tribute to their commitment.

It has a carillon bell-ringing mechanism which has more in common with European tradition than that of English churches.

The church is normally locked.

The parish priest is Revd Stephen Lowe

The churchwardens are Josie Goodman ((01746 785029) and Rob Ewen ((01746 785020)

St John the Baptist, Kenley

This 14th century church has an unusual low tower whose pyramid roof starts below the ridge of the nave roof.

The parish priest is Revd Judy Davies

The churchwardens are Mr Brian Roberts (( 01746 785255)
and Capt J Gill (( 01952 510841)

St James, Shipton

The chancel of this mediaeval church was rebuilt in 1589 and is light and spacious. This date is close to the rebuilding of nearby Shipton Hall (1587) and it’s clear that a connection exists. The church also has connections with the More family whose children sailed to America on the ‘Mayflower’ and there is a plaque in church to commemorate this.

In early spring the churchyard is carpeted with a spectacular display of snowdrops.

The parish priest is Revd Stephen Lowe

The churchwardens are Wendy Brogden (( 01584 841649) and Jane Bishop (( 01746 785225)

St Michael and All Angels, Stanton Long

Parts of this church date from the 13th century but it was much restored in the 19th century.

The ring of three bells in its small tower rang in the millennium proudly at the hands of three enthusiastic members of the congregation who had undertaken to learn to ring especially for that moment. Trained by Much Wenlock’s Tower Captain they continue to develop their skills.

The parish priest is Revd Stephen Lowe

The churchwardens are Sue Disley (( 01746 712401)
and Stephen Coad (( 01746 785268)

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