Shropshire bishop spreads the word using Twitter

For centuries the clergy spread the word from the church pulpit to their faithful parishioners.

But today even the vicar of the smallest church can get his message out to millions of people around the world with the press of a few buttons.

The Anglican Bishop of Shrewsbury, The Right Reverend Mark Rylands, recently joined the online platform and has written his January bishop's letter on the subject.

The cricket-loving bishop said he was only a tentative Tweeter but was becoming "an avid watcher and listener" of the latest news and views on the site.

He said social media was a good, modern way of spreading the Christian message.

"Twitter is the first for news now," he said. "The news corporations follow Twitter to catch what is going on around the world. If you are linked to Twitter you seem to be in touch with a global community.

"Following the right people on Twitter means we can pick up distilled wisdom. Followers of Jesus are called disciples and Twitter looks to be a hub where we can enhance our learning as pilgrims in God's world.

"There are a lot of people out there in 'Twitterland', engaging with one another, making connections and creating networks. Christians are called to be missionaries and here is an entire new mission field."

He added: "Twitter is good for sharing information about community services and events that then get retweeted around various networks.

"Here in Shropshire, one vicar with one tweet managed to reach over 900 people within two hours concerning latest details about the local food bank and a Christingle for the Children's Society.

"Called to create community in often remote rural areas, here is a way for the church to be good news, draw people's attention to resources available for the common good and bring folk together."

The Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury Mark Davies does not have a personal Twitter account, but updates from his sermons and news from his diocese are posted on @ShrewsRCnews

Follow Bishop Mark Rylands' Twitter account @shrewsbishop

Here are some other influential Shropshire and Mid Wales tweeters worth following, and their Twitter handles:

• Mark Pritchard@MPritchardMP – MP for The Wrekin

• Philip Dunne@PhilipDunneMP – Ludlow MP

• Glyn Davies@GlynDaviesMP – Montgomeryshire MP

• Keith Barrow@KeithBarrow21 – Leader of Shropshire Council

• Jon Tandy@jontandy – Mayor of Shrewsbury

• Richard Partington@PartingtonRich – managing director of Telford & Wrekin Council

• Superintendent James Tozer@SuptTozer – policing commander for Shropshire

• DCI Jason Wells@DCIWells – DCI for Telford

• Ian Winstanley@CEOShropdoc – chief executive of Shropdoc

• Tim Beech@timb30 – managing director of BBC Radio Shropshire

• Star comment: Bishop is making a good move