Elizabeth Hurley drops in for Shropshire carol concert
[gallery] She's one of the most recognised women in the world, famous for her career as an actress and model – and last night Elizabeth Hurley was in Shropshire.
Hurley, 49, attended a charity carol service held in the grounds of Upton Cressett Hall, near Bridgnorth, with her 12-year-old son Damian.
Her presence at the intimate event at St Michael's Church was down to her long-standing friendship with landowner William Cash.
As well as joining in with carol singing, the actress also read a poem during the service, socialised with some of the 120 guests and posed for homely pictures around a Christmas tree inside the stately hall.
She said it was "always a pleasure" to visit the county, and relived happy memories of a winter visit two years ago when snow was "up to her knees".
Standing next to a makeshift altar, Elizabeth Hurley took her place to give a reading in front guests.
It was not the first time the famous actress and model had been the guest of honour at an event – but rarely had she taken centre stage at a small church hidden away in the Shropshire countryside.
Ever the professional, she gave her audience a little grin before reading John Betjeman's poem Christmas – a verse fittingly written by the poet following his own visit decades ago to the grounds of Upton Cressett Hall, near Bridgnorth, where last night's charity carol concert was held.
Hurley, who travelled from her home in Gloucester with Damien to attend the concert, has become something of a regular at Upton Cressett due to her 30-year friendship with former flatmate and estate owner William Cash.
The service was held within the walls of the grade I-listed 11th century St Michael's Church, which lies in the grounds of the estate and was specially opened for the event. Money was raised for the Churches Conservation Trust, the organisation which now looks after the building.
Guests included Mr Cash's father Bill, MP for Stone – who read a passage from T S Elliot's The Four Quartets during the service – and actress Charlotte Radford.
Hurley, who said Betjeman's poem was one of her favourites, said she always enjoyed her visits to Shropshire and that last night's concert had been no exception.
She said: "I enjoyed the service very much.
"I've known William for more than 30 years now and it was nice he gave me a poem by Betjeman to read, because he is one of my favourites.
"We've visited Upton Cressett and Bridgnorth quite a few times now and we really like the area.
"We've come at Easter-time before and once in winter when the snow was up to your knees, which was really nice, about two years ago. It's always a pleasure to come to Shropshire."
Visitors to the service made their way to the church down a winding path, lit by candlelight.
The dimly lit building played host to a group of medieval dancers who began the service with a short routine before the Reverend Simon Cawdell thanked everyone for coming.
Hymns were sung, readings and poems were read aloud, and then more dancing took place before the service was brought to a close.
William Cash has also joined the fundraising committee at the Churches Conservation Trust and said that he now planned to make the carol service into an annual event.
"It was so great to be able to invite people to this church, which is rarely used," he said.
"It's great people from the community came here and I'm also grateful to my friend Elizabeth for stopping by.
"What people seem to love about this place is there is no light, no Wi-fi or internet.
"In a time when everything is instant this church is a step back in time. This church, with the medieval dancers, makes it quite an experience for visitors.
"We had about 120 guests so we hope to raise a reasonable amount for the trust.
"It was a very good reading from Elizabeth and it was particularly nice because Betjamen actually wrote about this place back in 1938.
"We want to make this annual event because the trust really does need funding and support."
Sir Bill Cash said the event really made him feel like Christmas had begun.
"The church was used right up until the 1960s," he said. When our family moved in we renovated it and then it was taken over by the trust, which has made it available for services again.
"It has a fantastic Norman arch and it was where my daughter was christened during the 1970s. It has retain all its original features and now it hosts events such as the Haydn Festival.
"It's nice to be back with the family and I will be here on Christmas Day because I haven't missed one since we moved here."
