Under-threat Shropshire border church in call for supporters

Those who look after the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Snead, which sits on the River Camlad between Lydham and Churchstoke on the Shropshire border, are desperately seeking new benefactors to help keep the building going.

No assistance could mark the end for the building which was largely rebuilt in 1870, but has stood in one form or another since at least the 12th century.

Church warden Natasha Hird said: "It is highly regrettable that unless we can find financial benefactors we will be unable to remain open as a parish church, which is just heart-breaking.

"So many people have worked so hard over the years to look after the church and the churchyard and to keep them in the beautiful condition they are now in. But if we cannot meet our running costs of about £3,000 per year we will need to close our doors forever."

Fellow church warden Trish Macmullan added: "It has been in the fortunate situation of having benefactors both in Victorian times and back in the 1990s, but now there's a declining population who can get there and we only have about six services a year."

"It's a very tiny church, completely tucked away so a lot of people don't realise it's there. It's approached along a grass path. From the road you can't see it."

She said Snead parish has only about 14 dwellings and the congregation was now struggling to meet the running costs of the ancient church, which was once the site of an Augustinian priory, with a mill alongside it in medieval times.

She said the church was overseen by Reverend Norman Morris who looked after about nine churches in the rural south west Shropshire and Marches area, including Myndtown Church.

Myndtown was in a similar situation, but supporters rallied together to raise thousands for urgent repairs, as well as bidding for a Heritage Lottery grant to safeguard its future.

St Mary the Virgin, meanwhile, has not had such attention.

The churchyard has been cared for in partnership with the charity Caring for God's Acre

The parochial church council is meeting on October 9 to decide the future of the church.

Anyone who may be able to help can call Trish Macmullan on (01588) 620275 or email Natasha Hird on Natasha_hird@hotmail.com