Worshippers sing hymns at the Easter service at Lea Cross church

Worshippers, who gained ownership of a Shropshire church five years after they were locked out, have held their first event there since they won their battle.

More than 40 people turned out for the landmark event at St Anne’s Church at Lea Cross, near Shrewsbury, yesterday afternoon.

Many of those who attended had been part of the congregation which had been unable to get into the building following a row with the Church of England.

Officials from the Diocese of Hereford changed the locks in February 2005 after a ruling allowed the diocese’s board of finance to take all appropriate measures to keep the church and grounds secure following a long-running dispute over the keys, involving claims about who was responsible for the church’s upkeep.

Earlier this year it was revealed it had been sold to Tewkesbury man Brian Wardrobe and ownership passed to a mystery villager who returned it to the people.
Service

Yesterday’s Stations of the Cross service, which lasted about 40-minutes, featured prayers and hymns led by Brian Goodwin, of Crew Green, near Shrewsbury, who used to live in the area and still has a strong interest in the church.

He said: “I’m very pleased we’re able to hold our first service here since we have regained the keys and access to the building from the Diocese of Hereford.”

Margaret Gwilt, who was among those locked out after refusing to hand back their keys, said: “It was a lovely service. We’ve got it back to how it was. We’re looking forward to many events here.”

The service also included 14 readings about the final hours of Jesus, each of which ended with a lily and cross left by a sarcophagus in memory of Anne Hawkes. Her son Samuel built the church in 1888 and named it after her.

The service was one of a number held throughout Shropshire to mark Good Friday.

A congregation from St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Newport paraded behind a wooden cross along the High Street to The Square, where an open air service was held, and Churches Together in Wellington, Hadley and Leegomery held a walk of witness through the streets of Wellington, attended by about 300 people. It ended with a drama production in the town square based on Britain’s Got Talent and including some events from the original Good Friday.

And in Ludlow crowds of people turned out for the Good Friday Churches Together procession of the cross.

By John Kirk