OUR BENEFICE
The Benefice of Haughmond and Wrekin is a grouping of twelve parishes (thirteen churches) set amongst beautiful countryside in rural Shropshire nestled between Shrewsbury to the west and Telford to the east. The benefice is named after two hills situated close to its western and eastern boundaries - Haughmond Hill and The Wrekin. Much of the southern boundary of the benefice follows the River Severn.
The benefice includes large centres of population in the villages of Admaston, Allscott and Bratton on the north western edge of Telford with the remainder of the benefice consisting of smaller communities in villages and hamlets.
The twelve parishes are Buildwas, Eaton Constantine with Wroxeter, High Ercall, Leighton-under-Wrekin, Longdon-on-Tern, Rodington, Rowton, Uffington, Uppington, Upton Magna, Withington and Wrockwardine.
The benefice is situated within the Diocese of Lichfield and is a member benefice of the Deanery of Shrewsbury and Wrekin.
OUR WORSHIP
On most Sundays we offer worship in all of our twelve parishes. Most parishes have a common service time each week but some parishes vary the service times from week to week, so please check the times detailed on this website if you are planning to attend one of our services. Occasionally (usually, but not exclusively, on the fifth Sunday in a month), we hold joint services where people from a number of parishes in our benefice meet together to worship.
We offer a range of services in our churches, some using formats from the Book of Common Prayer and others based on the more recent Common Worship formats. Wherever you choose to join us, and whatever service is being held when you attend, you can be assured of a warm welcome.
We have four Praise and Play groups meeting in the benefice:
Every Friday morning (during school terms) at Wrockwardine Church, 10am
On the first Wednesday of each month at Rodington Church, 10am
On the third Wednesday of each month at Upton Magna Church, 10am (not in August 2022)
On the third Wednesday of each month at Buildwas Village Hall, 2pm
Three of the benefice's Praise and Play communities have Facebook pages. You can follow these to keep in touch:
There are also Praise and Play online videos on the Benefice's YouTube channel.
We have four Messy Churches meeting around the benefice:
First Sunday of the month - High Ercall, 3pm
Second Sunday of the month - Rodington Village Hall, 3.30pm
Third Sunday of the month - Withington Parish Rooms, 4pm (not in August 2022)
Third Sunday of the month - Ellerdine Village Hall, 9.30am
We also have an outdoor "Messy Church goes wild" which meets on the fourth Sunday of the month - 3pm outside Rodington Church (not in August 2022)
You can follow all our Messy Church communities via their Facebook pages:
Messy Church serving Ellerdine, High Ercall, Longdon upon Tern, Rodington and Rowton,
Messy Church serving Uffington, Upton Magna and Withington.
Messy Church will meet on:
Sunday 14 August at Rodington Village Hall, 3.30pm
Sunday, 21 August at Ellerdine Village Hall, 9.30am
Sunday 3 September at High Ercall Village Hall 3pm
JIGSAW is our group for young people at Wrockwardine. It meets every second and fourth Sunday in Wrockwardine Village Hall at 11.15am. It meets at the same time as the Sunday morning service in St Peter's Church opposite, and is a space for young people to meet and learn more about Jesus, to have fun, and to worship together. Jigsaw is attended by children aged 0 -18.
We have a two Youth Cafés in the benefice:
Every Friday evening (during school term time), 7 - 9pm in Longdon Village Hall
Alternate Saturday evenings, 5.30 - 7.30pm at the Rectory in Wrockwardine
We play games, have craft activities, support the Rotary shoebox scheme and or course have a café time of hot chocolate and pizzas, chip butties or other delights. Our meetings include worship and reflection
We have two Open the Book teams in the benefice serving the primary schools in Bratton, High Ercall and Upton Magna. There is a team from outside the benefice who provide Open the Book into Crudgington Academy. We hope to soon have a team available to provide Open the Book into Buildwas school.
EVENTS
OASIS meets in Upton Magna church on the third Wednesday of each month (next on Wednesday 17th August) at 2pm providing an opportunity to chat and is a place for those who can feel a little isolated. There will be refreshments and it’s a good chance to catch up. Attendees will sing some of their favourite songs and hymns.
JUMBLE SALE at Buildwas Village Hall on Saturday 20th August from midday until 4pm - raising funds for the upkeep of the church. £1 entry fee. Donations welcome (especially clothes) 01952 432497 or 07870 883238 - collection available.
The next WALK AROUND THE BENEFICE goes close to the eastern edge of the Benefice as the group will, on Saturday 20th August, walk up one of the two hills which form the new name of the Benefice. The group will meet at the Forest Glen car park at the foot of The Wrekin at 12noon, pausing during the walk at the Halfway House before continuing to the summit.
FILLING STATION meets again at Rodington Village Hall at 7.30pm on Monday 22nd August. Kevein Roberts returns to speak at the meeting. Kevin was the Director of ReSource from April 2016 until his retirement in September 2021. Converted as a student, he taught in Sudan and loves Africa. He led growing churches in Beverley, Reading, Shrewsbury and had a regional role in Cumbria. The meeting starts at 7.30pm but arrive at 7.15pm for tea and cake!
There are a number of regular COFFEE MORNINGS each month, including Rodington Church on Wednesday 31st August from 10.30am. Eaton Constantine Village Hall on Monday 5th September between 10am and 12noon, Wrockwardine Church on Tuesday 6th September between 10am and 12noon and Withington Parish Room on Wednesday 7th September between 10.30am and 12 noon.
There will be a WILDLIFE AFTERNOON in Buildwas churchyard on Saturday 10th September from 2pm until 5pm This is a family friendly, free drop-in event in collaboration with Caring for God’s Acre. The afternoon will feature moth release, wildflower identification, folklore, hands-on mammal activity, "meet a slow worm" and children’s activities.
All Hallows’ Church at Rowton will be holding their HARVEST SUPPER in Ellerdine Village Hall on Saturday 1st October, 7pm for 7.30pm. The cost is £10 for adults and £5 for children, 10 and under. Contact Jeff Dale 01952 541267, Eileen Baylis 01952 541452 or any Rowton PCC member.
There are four PRAISE AND PLAY groups in our benefice for pre-school children and their families. Wrockwardine Church Praise and Play meets every Friday, during school terms, between 10am and 11.30am (next on Friday 10th September) . The Praise and Play group at Rodington Church meets on the first Wednesday of every month (next on Wednesday 7th September at 10am). There are two Praise and Play groups that meet on the third Wednesday of every month - the Upton Magna group meets in church at 10am (next on Wednesday 21st September) and the Buildwas group meets in the Village Hall at 2pm (next on Wednesday 17th August).
OUR TEAM
Team Rector:
Revd Andy Ackroyd
revandy320@btinternet.com
01952-252078
Associate Minister:
Revd Christine Tough
christine.v.tough@gmail.com
01952-510530
Reader:
Rhys Morris
rhys@disciple.plus.com
07434-452677
Reader:
Hilary Phillips
hilaryphillips@live.co.uk
01952-770632
Community Lay Minister:
Jim Tough
jimtoughwv@gmail.com
01952-510530
Team Vicar:
Revd Ian Naylor
iandjnaylor20@gmail.com
01952 -771518
Local Lay Mission and Outreach Minister:
Di Woolridge
missionwrockwardine@gmail.com
07970-607498
Reader:
Tom Currie
tomandshirley77@gmail.com
07973-454551
Lay Minister:
Rosalie Wheeldon
michael.wheeldon2@btinternet.com
01952-770247
SERVICES
You can view the Church of England's online service by clicking on the image below.
Sunday 21 August, Tenth Sunday after Trinity
Buildwas:
Eaton Constantine:
High Ercall:
Leighton:
London upon Tern:
Rodington:
Rowton:
Uffington:
Uppington:
Upton Magna:
Withington:
Wrockwardine:
3.00pm
9.30am
11.00am
11.00am
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
9.30am
9.30am
9.30am
4.00pm
6.30pm
11.15am
6.30pm
Evening Worship
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Family Worship
Holy Communion
Family Worship/Messy Church
at Ellerdine Village Hall
Morning Worship
Family Worship
Family Worship
Messy Church in the Parish Rooms
Evening Worship
Holy Communion
Evening Prayer
Sunday 28 August, Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Buildwas:
Eaton Constantine:
High Ercall:
Leighton:
London upon Tern:
Rodington:
Rowton:
Uffington:
Uppington:
Upton Magna:
Withington:
Wrockwardine:
3.00pm
9.30am
11.00am
6.30pm
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
6.30pm
9.30am
8.00am
11.15am
Worship in the Village Hall
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Evening Worship
Morning Worship
Methodist led service
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Evening Worship
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Sunday 4 September, Twelfth Sunday after Trinity
Buildwas:
Eaton Constantine:
High Ercall:
Leighton:
London upon Tern:
Rodington:
Rowton:
Uffington:
Uppington:
Upton Magna:
Withington:
Wrockwardine:
3.00pm
9.30am
8.00am
3.00pm
11.00am
9.30am
11.00am
6.30pm
9.30am
9.30am
9.30am
6.30pm
11.15am
6.30pm
Evening Worship
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Family Worship/Messy Church
in the Village Hall
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Methodist led service
Evening Worship
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Evening Worship
Family Worship
Holy Communion
Sunday 11 September, Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
Buildwas:
Eaton Constantine:
High Ercall:
Leighton:
London upon Tern:
Rodington:
Rowton:
Uffington:
Uppington:
Upton Magna:
Withington:
Wrockwardine:
3.00pm
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
9.30am
3.00pm
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
9.30am
9.30am
8.00am
11.15am
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Family Service
Morning Worship
Family Worship/Messy Church
(in the Village Hall)
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Family Worship
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Sunday 18 September, Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Buildwas:
Eaton Constantine:
High Ercall:
Leighton:
London upon Tern:
Rodington:
Rowton:
Uffington:
Uppington:
Upton Magna:
Withington:
Wrockwardine:
3.00pm
9.30am
11.00am
11.00am
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
9.30am
9.30am
9.30am
4.00pm
6.30pm
11.15am
3.00pm
6.30pm
Evening Worship
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Family Worship
Holy Communion
Family Worship/Messy Church
at Ellerdine Village Hall
Morning Worship
Family Worship
Family Worship
Messy Church in the Parish Rooms
Evening Worship
Holy Communion
Forest Church at St Peter's Academy
Evening Prayer
Sunday 25 September, Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
Buildwas:
Eaton Constantine:
High Ercall:
Leighton:
London upon Tern:
Rodington:
Rowton:
Uffington:
Uppington:
Upton Magna:
Withington:
Wrockwardine:
3.00pm
9.30am
11.00am
6.30pm
9.30am
11.00am
3.00pm
9.30am
11.00am
9.30am
6.30pm
9.30am
8.00am
11.15am
Worship in the Village Hall
Morning Worship
Harvest Thanksgiving
Evening Worship
Morning Worship
Methodist led service
Messy Church goes wild
Holy Communion
Harvest Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Harvest Thanksgiving
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Harvest Thanksgiving
Buildwas - Holy Trinity Church
Services at 3.00pm unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Evening Worship
Worship in the Village Hall
Evening Worship
Holy Communion
Evening Worship
Worship in the Village Hall
Eaton Constantine - Church of St Mary the Virgin
Services at 9.30am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
High Ercall - St Michael and All Angels' Church
Services at 11.00am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Holy Communion (8am)
Family Worship/Messy Church
in the Village Hall (3pm)
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Leighton - St Mary's Church
Services at 11.00am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Morning Worship
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Holy Communion
Family Worship (9.30am)
Morning Worship
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Longdon on Tern - St Bartholomew's Church
Services at 9.30am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Family Worship
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Family Worship
Morning Worship
Rodington - St George's Church
Services at 11.00am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Holy Communion
Methodist led service
Methodist led service
Family Worship / Messy Church
in the Village Hall (3.30pm)
Holy Communion
Methodist led service
Messy Church goes wild (3pm)
Rowton - All Hallows Church
Services at 9.30am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Family Worship/Messy Church
at Ellerdine Village Hall
Holy Communion
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Morning Worship
Family Worship/Messy Church
at Ellerdine Village Hall
Holy Communion
Uffington - Holy Trinity Church
Services at 9.30am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Morning Worship
Holy Communion (11am)
Morning Worship
Morning Worship (11am)
Morning Worship
Holy Communion (11am)
Uppington - Holy Trinity Church
Services at 9.30am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Family Worship
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Morning Worship
Family Worship
Holy Communion
Upton Magna - St Lucia's Church
Services at 9.30am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Family Worship
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Family Worship
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Withington - St John the Baptist's Church
Services at 9.30am unless otherwise stated
Sunday 21 August
Sunday 28 August
Sunday 4 September
Sunday 11 September
Sunday 18 September
Sunday 25 September
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Holy Communion
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Family Worship
Messy Church in the Parish Room (4pm)
Evening Worship (6.30pm)
Holy Communion
Wrockwardine - St Peter's Church
Wednesday 17 August
Sunday 21 August
Wednesday 24 August
Sunday 28 August
Wednesday 31 August
Sunday 4 September
Wednesday 7 September
Sunday 11 September
Wednesday 14 September
Sunday 18 September
Wednesday 21 September
Sunday 25 September
Wednesday 28 September
10.30am
11.15am
6.30pm
10.30am
8.00am
11.15am
10.30am
11.15am
6.30pm
10.30am
8.00am
11.15am
10.30am
11.15am
3.00pm
6.30pm
10.30am
8.00am
11.15am
10.30am
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Evening Prayer
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Family Service
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Forest Church
at St Peter's Academy
Evening Prayer
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Morning Worship
Holy Communion
Drop-in Hour of Prayer at St Peter's Church, Wrockwardine every Tuesday at 12noon.
There will be a service of Holy Communion at St Peter's Church, Wrockwardine every Wednesday at 10.30am.
OUR CHURCHES
Buildwas - Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church at Buildwas dates from 1720 and replaced a medieval church. The book "The Buildings of England: Shropshire (Newman and Pevsner, 2006) describes it as “a diminutive building”. The chancel of the church was “gothicised” in 1864. The pulpit of the church is Jacobean. Its west gallery dates from 1720 and is supported by strong square pillars which also support the bellcote. The east chancel window dates from around 1864 and depicts scenes from the life of Christ. The church hosts a number of nineteenth century memorial tablets.
Postcode: TF8 7DA, Map reference: SJ 643045
Crudgington - St Mary's Church
St Mary's church in Crudgington is in the Parish of High Ercall, built in 1863 by J L Randal. It has a wooden bell chamber and spirelet
Postcode: TF6 6JY, Map reference: SJ 632181
Eaton Constantine - St Mary's Church
The present church building, which replaced the original medieval church, was built in 1847-48 by Thomas Smith of Madeley. It has a two-bay chancel, vestry, nave, south porch (the entrance) and a "bellcote". There are steep roofs and a buttress. It has a circular Norman font.
The box pews are unusual and there is a west gallery supported on iron columns. The organ, which can still be played, dates
from 1762.
Postcode SY5 6RF, Map reference SJ 599062
High Ercall - St Michael and All Angels Church
Although not mentioned in the Domesday Book there seems little doubt that the original church was built around the year 1090. The church was enlarged in about the year 1200 when the present fine arcades were positioned where the outer walls formerly stood.
History has little to relate about the fortunes of the church until the momentous years of the Civil War when, in 1645, during the siege of the Royalists in the adjoining Manor House (now the Hall), it suffered considerable damage. In the year 1689 it was recorded that a peal of four bells was already hanging in the belfry, two more were added seventeen years later, and the last two were hung in 1812. The bells have been restored on a number of occasions since then. This fine peal of bells is rung regularly throughout the year. In 1998 a new bell-ringing floor was installed creating an area for kitchen and toilet facilities below.
The church contains many fine examples of stained glass, an impressive candelabrum, and an effigy of a crusader thought to date
from 1300, amongst many other interesting features.
Postcode: TF6 6BE, Map reference SJ 594175
Leighton - St Mary's Church
The Domesday Book of 1087 mentions Leighton Church. Restored in c.1717 with a classical east window. A part of the font is from
Virconium. The two iron tombs in the Nave, dated 1677 and 1696 were cast in the village where iron was smelt from at least 1650. On the south of the chancel arch is an heraldic device common before and after 1800, which was a memorial of the head of the manorial family. The figure of a Knight Templar in the sancturary is that of Sir Richard Leighton, whose body is said to have been buried in Buildwas Abbey. On the other side is the tomb of William Leighton and Margaret his wife, dated 1540. After the dissolution of Buildwas Abbey in 1534 the rectoral tithe of Leighton Benefice which the Abbey had appropriated centuries earlier, was given by the King to the Manor of Leighton, the owner of which became lay-rector with a seat in the chancel and the responsibility of repairing the chancel. The present bells were cast by Abraham Rudall in 1716 and bear his name and the date.
Postcode: SY5 6RN, Map reference SJ 612053
Longdon on Tern - St Bartholomew's Church
The Church of St Bartholomew is a small 18th century, Grade II listed, Georgian stone and red brick church. Built in 1742 the church has seen major alterations and an extension in the late nineteenth century. On the same site stands the refurbished Grade II* listed Longdon-Upon-Tern village hall, formerly a schoolhouse provided by the Duke of Sutherland and opened in 1849; a decline in population meant the school closed in 1970. The west gallery was refurbished in 2010 and can now be used for musical events. The church has excellent acoustics.
Postcode TF6 6LE, Map reference SJ 618152
Rodington - St George's Church
It is not known how long there has been a village at Rodington. The name is English, meaning the settlement of the people by the River Roden, and English people began to move into the area in the eighth century, although there may have been a settlement before that. The first church was probably built of wood and then replaced with a stone one before the Norman Conquest around 1066. As you enter the church you will see an area of exposed stonework on the wall opposite the door which shows part of the original wall. The original stonework is probably 1000 years old since Rodington is described in the Domesday Book as having a church. The chancel was built in 1843, and eight years later, in 1851, the stone walls were covered in brick and the north aisle was built. The church would then have appeared much as it is now.
Postcode SY4 4QS, Map reference SJ 588143
Rowton - All Hallows Church
The book "The Buildings of England: Shropshire" (Newman and Pevsner, 2006) says of the church of All Hallow at Rowton "Of coarse purple sandstone. Said to be medieval in origin. Nothing datable earlier than 1800, when the nave was reconstructed wider and the broad lancets [windows] inserted. Short chancel, of brick, dated 1881. West porch dated 1882. Weeny west bell turret."
The church is set near a farm, with stunning views over farmland, often with cattle grazing in the fields.
Richard Baxter the English Puritan church leader, theologian and controversialist, called by Dean Stanley "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen" was born at Rowton on 12 November 1615 and is commemorated there by a small stone obelisk, which stands on a triangle of grass at the centre of the village.
Postcode TF6 6QQ Map reference SJ 613199
Uffington - Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity church at Uffington was built in 1856 by S. Pountney Smith. It replaced a medieval building and is built of tooled Grinshill sandstone ashlar. The chancel and nave are in one, with a south chapel and a narrow north aisle. There is a timber framed south porch. Towards the road the gable end of the chancel displays a wheel window over three lancets. There are patterned tiles throughout the church. In the windows there is sixteenth and seventeenth century glass from the Netherlands and Germany, and the square panels in the lancets in the south of the nave came from Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland, two of which are date 1579 and 1658. (See the book "The Buildings of England: Shropshire" (Newman and Pevsner, 2006). The churchyard is a conservation area and has won awards from the Diocese of Lichfield.
Wilfred Owen, the well-known first world war poet, used to attend Holy Trinity at Uffington, crossing the river from Shrewsbury in
a coracle!
Postcode SY4 4SN Map reference SJ 528139
Uppington - Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church, Uppington was built around the Norman Period. The original architect was George Sidebotham. It was restored and partly rebuilt in 1885 by J.P. Pritchard of Darlington. All financed by the Fourth Duke of Cleveland. It has since been listed as a grade II building. The book "The Buildings of England" (Newman and Pevsner, 2006) says the church building has an early Norman nave and chancel, with some interesting 11th century features. The blocked north doorway, which has some Anglo Saxon features, is carved with a long dragon with loose knots in its tail. There is a Norman window in the south wall of the chancel and there is a three-light 14th century window. The 1885 rebuilding dramatically altered the building, with heightened and strengthened walls, an extended nave, and a new tower.
Uppington's association with Wroxeter with its Roman city can be seen in the apparently Roman altar in the churchyard to the south of the nave. There is also an attractive living ancient yew with hollow centre of 28' girth.
Postcode TF6 5HJ Map reference SJ 601096
Upton Magna - St Lucia's Church
Upton Magna church is dedicated to St. Lucia - one of only two churches in this country dedicated to her, apparently. The first church building was probably a wooden or wattle and daub church and was founded at least as early as the twelfth century, though there is evidence that the chancel dates back to the Norman Conquest. The north wall of the chancel seems to date back to the time when nearby Haughmond Abbey was built (c. 1135). The windows in the north wall seem to date from this period, though the ones in the east wall are a little later, probably thirteenth century and the windows in the south wall are fourteenth century insertions. There was some restoration in the nineteenth century, when the chancel arch was rebuilt and perhaps the east end of the church was also rebuilt. The roof dates from the nineteenth century as does the north aisle and the vestry. The tower was completed in 1475 and
contains a good ring of six bells, the majority from the seventeenth century, though new bells were added in 1907 and 2007.
Postcode SY4 4TZ Map reference SJ 553124
Withington - St John the Baptist Church
The Church was founded in the twelfth Century as a Chapel of Upton Magna. It was entirely rebuilt between 1872 and 1874 in style of the late 13th century. It consists of a 2 bay chancel, with organ chamber on the north side, a 3 bay nave and porch (also on the north side) and at the west end a 4 staged tower, with a clock, topped by a spire which is a landmark for some miles. The fittings include a stone reredos and central panel with relief of the crucifixion, altar rails, an oak lectern and octagonal stone pulpit and font.
There are still a number of earlier features, including the sixteenth century. There are 2 bells, cast in the thirteenth or fourteenth century which hang in a two tier timber frame for 5 bells of about 1800, pre-dating the 1874 tower. These are the 2nd and 3rd oldest Church bells in Shropshire.
Postcode SY4 4PZ Map reference SJ 576129
Wrockwardine - St Peter's Church
St. Peter's church, Wrockwardine is thought to be of Saxon origin. The Domesday Book of 1068 refers to a church and a priest(Odelerius) in the settlement. There have been changes to the church over the centuries, but since the Perpendicular age (late fourteenth century) there have been few major alterations. The church building now consists of a nave and chancel, with north and south transepts.
The north transept houses the Cludde chapel. There is a fine tower with a ring of six bells, which. have been ringing out over the parish for over 600 years.
The churchyard surrounding the church is now closed for new burials, but contains tombs of some of the family of the Earls of Powis, among others. From the church there are stunning views north and east.
Postcode TF6 5DG Map reference SJ 624120
BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS
Baptisms
You can be baptised as an infant or an adult. During the service, water is sprinkled on the head of those being baptised. It is a symbolic act which means that the person being baptised has become part of the family of God. Many parents choose to baptise their children in a service that is sometimes called ‘Christening’ to celebrate the new life of their child and commit to raising the child in the Christian faith.
Thanksgiving for Children
Some parents may not wish to make this commitment at this stage in a child’s life and we also offer a service of thanksgiving following the birth of a child, rather than baptism.
If you are interested in being baptised, or having children baptised, please contact a member of our clergy team who can discuss this with you. You will find their contact details here.
Weddings
Over 40,000 weddings take place in Church of England parish churches every year. Getting married is a really joyful and exciting time, but it can sometimes be stressful. One of our clergy team can offer you guidance and support not only in planning your wedding day, but also in your married life together.
If you’re thinking of getting married in a church, we would love to discuss this with you. Click here to view our team contact information
Services of Blessing and Thanksgiving
If you choose to get married outside of a church in a civil ceremony, you can still have a service of blessing on your marriage in one of our churches. One of our clergy team will be pleased to help you plan the service and advise what sort of service will suit you best.
Funerals
A funeral is used to mark the end of a person's life here on earth. The death of a loved one is an extremely sad and difficult time, so our clergy team is available to offer you help and support. You do not need to be a regular church attender to arrange a funeral; everyone is able to organise a funeral service with us, even if you have never gone to church. Please feel free to contact one of our team if you want to discuss funeral arrangements, or for help and support at this difficult time.
SAFEGUARDING
The Parochial Church Councils of each parish in the benefice of Haughmond and Wrekin take the safety of everyone who comes to church and any of its activities very seriously. They work to safeguarding guidelines provided by the Church of England, for both vulnerable adults and children. The Church of England policies and further information are available on the Church of England website. Each Parish is committed to Safeguarding and has adopted the National and Diocesan Safeguarding Policies. A Parish Safeguarding Policy has agreed by each parish (view/download).
Each parish has a Safeguarding Coordinator who works with the Parochial Church Council to ensure its safeguarding policy and associated procedures are implemented and regularly reviewed. The Parish Safeguarding Coordinator and his/her contact number, together with other emergency contact numbers are listed on this document (view/download).
You can also contact local authorities and charities if you have a safeguarding concern. Visit the relevant website listed below
Keeping Adults Safe in Shropshire Board
Shropshire's Safeguarding Children Board
NSPCC, Help for adults concerned about a child: 0808 800 5000
Childline: Help for children and young people: 0800 1111
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327
Action on Elder Abuse: 0808 808 8141
USEFUL LINKS
Our Facebook pages:
Benefice of Haughmond and Wrekin
Messy Church for Ellerdine, High Ercall, Longdon upon Tern, Rodington and Rowton
Messy Church for Uffington, Upton Magna and Withington
Praise and Play - Wrockwardine
Shropshire Historic Churches Trust
Schools:
St Lucia's Church of England School, Upton Magna
St Peter's Bratton Church of England Academy
Recordings of Services at St Peter's Church, Wrockwardine