Lent is the annual Christian time of reflection, fasting, prayers and penance, in preparation for the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. It lasts for 40 days and represents  the period that  Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday on 18th February. We  mark that important day with a service of the Holy Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes at our sister Church, St Mary the Virgin, Bromfield at 7.30pm.

Holy Week is indeed a period of contrasts, with Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem being celebrated on Palm Sunday.

Lent 2026 will end on 2nd with Maundy Thursday; and will be followed by Good Friday on 3rd April. 

Our Easter Sunday service will be on 5th April and will be held this year with at St Mary's, Bromfield at 11.15am

You can see the 'Propers' for each of the Holy Week services held in the Benefice on our website here 

  

Date: February through to April 

 

 

“We remember that dust we are and to dust we shall return; so we should get on with the important job of living well whilst we still can do so.

Lent will end in the  joy of the Easter resurrection, so keep the faith and live in the hope, for Ash Wednesday reminds us too that the Easter hope and Spring are not far behind”

Rev’d Fr Justin Parker - Rector of Bromfield Benefice 

 

---

 The Church of England’s theme for Lent 2026 is 'Draw Near; Life-Giving habits for Lent'

During Lent, reflections are centred around a summary of the Christian Way from Common Worship, which identifies six activities essential to our calling as disciples. 

Each week a different contributor explores a different aspect of Christian discipleship – worshipping together praying, exploring the Bible, sharing communion, offering service and sharing the good news with others. 

"Draw Near is all about teaching us how we can cultivate the habits and practices that will draw us nearer to God. And we will find that, in doing so, God will draw nearer to us, too."

Archbishops Sarah Mullally & Stephen Cottrell

 

 

 

 During Holy Week ...

... Christians recall the events leading up to Jesus' death by Crucifixion and, according to their faith, his Resurrection.

Fr Justin  is marking this Holy Week with a series of walks between the Churches of the Benefice, linked to services on each site.   

Everyone is welcome to join in. Details of the date, time and locations are set out below. We look forward to seeing you.

Date: Wednesday 1st April 2026

Time: From 12.30pm to 2.30pm

Venue: Stanton Lacy Village Hall

Please join us at the Village Hall to mark Lent with a simple meal of home made soup, bread and cheese provided by local parishioners.

Lunch is free, but donations are welcome. All proceeds will be shared between St Peter's Church (supporting much needed maintenance and repair work) and Ludlow Food Bank.

Places are limited so please contact Jennette Arnold, Church Warden on 07568 083322 to book your place.

All welcome.

Date: Saturday 25th April 2026

Time: 7.30pm 

Come and join us for what we are certain will be a wonderful evening of music and song, and all in a good cause.

Bella Acapella are a Ludlow based group of women who gather together to sing. Their repertoire is extremely diverse, ranging from traditional songs and carols, to barbershop and more contemporary style songs from groups like Abba, Queen, The Beatles, Coldplay and more.

Sharing the programme will be Ludlow's newest mixed 4 part harmony singing group - The Harmonics.

All this takes place in the magical setting of St Peter's Church with its excellent acoustics.

Tickets are £10 each from Eventbrite, using the QR code opposite; or from Else on 07713 895400. Cash bar available.  All profits will be shared between St Peter's and the Ludlow Food Bank.

Everyone welcome.

Date: 7th and 8th February 2026

Time: From 2pm to 4.30pm

From mid-January to mid-February each year our churchyard is carpeted in a wonderful display of snowdrops, referred to as “one of the Springtime glories of South Shropshire”.

The snowdrops have been part of our landscape for over 150 years. They were planted originally by Mrs Emma Mary Bowles, the wife of the Rev Joseph Bowles, who was vicar at St Peter’s Church from 1847 to 1879.

Nowadays the display attracts visitors from across the West Midlands.

Throughout the second weekend of February we offer refreshments, homemade cakes and preserves all available to buy. Join us to enjoy this wonderful show and help raise funds for the Church.

Everyone welcome.

Venue: Stanton Lacy Village Hall

Supported by the Parish Council and St Peter’s Church, Stanton Lacy has set up ‘Winter Warmer’ soup lunches, operating from the Village Hall. The brainchild of Robin Gatehouse, local farmer and former chair of the Village Hall Committee, the aim has been to offer a place for hot food, warmth and companionship during the winter months.

The first event was held in December 2022. Such was its success that it ran monthly thorughout the winter of 2022/3 and we have kept it going each winter ever since. 

In these difficult times it shows real community strength and just what can be achieved by active local leadership and a range of volunteers. 

So, soup makers step forward please! 

To book your place and/or to provide help at the events contact Robin Gatehouse on 07977 913004 or Jennette Arnold on 07568 083322

Everyone welcome.

Date: From May 2025 onwards

Venue: St Peter's Church

Thankyou to everyone who made the charity book launch of "The Temptation and Downfall of the Vicar of Stanton Lacy" on  17th May 2025 such a success.

As background, on the inner south wall of our church is a plaque listing all the vicars who have served here since 1300. Halfway down the list, in 1679, are the dates of the Reverend Robert Foulkes. What is doesn’t say is why his time there ended so abruptly. He was hanged that year at Tyburn.

 His tale is a moving account of a forbidden, passionate love affair that turns sour, of village jealousies, of the joys and troubles of an agricultural Shropshire community in the aftermath of the Restoration. And as Pembridge historian Dr Peter Klein points out in his moving and accurately told tale, it is a universal story of the struggles of human nature. Dr Klein has managed to discover archive material which brings the whole drama, known throughout 17th century England, back to life.

 As a fundraiser for local churches, and in particular St Peter’s church where this story begins, the Unwin Charitable Trust has donated copies of this book, with every penny raised going to the church. The normally £12 book is available to all worshippers and visitors in return for a £10 donation to the church.

Copies of the book and details of how to pay are on display in St Peter's.

We would like to thank sincereley the Unwin Charitable Trust for their kind donation of 300 books. We hope that you enjoy reading the book and thank you for your continuing support.

Date: From June 2025 onwards 

Time: 10am to 3pm on Saturdays

Venue: St Peter's Church

At St Peter's we have always opened our doors to a range of activities but with our new kitchen and toilet facilties we can now widen the scope of the events on site. 

We have recently welcomed David Horton, an accomplished local maker and great teacher. David has started to run Basketry Classes here, allowing people the opportunity to gain skills and insight into the ancient art of working with hazel. 

All the details are in the poster opposite. 

We hope you will have a great time.