Shropshire Day 2026: Churches along the River Severn set to celebrate like never before
With Shropshire Day fast approaching the county's Lord Lieutenant has announced a first of its kind series of special church services for the occasion along the River Severn.
Each February, the ceremonial county of Shropshire marks Shropshire Day on February 23 - the feast day of Saint Milburga, the county’s patron saint.
This year a special event is being planned to mark the occasion – a multi-location Church of England service spanning the River Severn on Sunday, February 22.
Shropshire is part of both the Diocese of Lichfield - the Northern part of the county including Shrewsbury, and the Diocese of Herefordshire - the southern part of the county, and the service is being arranged to celebrate both dioceses’ link to the county.
The afternoon of worship will commence at 2pm in St Mary the Virgin Church at Jackfield and then proceed with a walk of approximately 2.5 miles, which starts in the Diocese of Hereford and the Telford and Wrekin Council area, crosses the River Severn and concludes in the Diocese of Lichfield and the Shropshire Council area at the Church of St Mary, Sutton Maddock.
The service will be led by Rev Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, and Rev Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, in the presence of Anna Turner, the Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire.
A new prayer has been drafted by Rev Chris Thorpe of St Andrew’s Church, Shifnal, and it is hoped that both dioceses will encourage the use of the new collect in Sunday services.
Mrs. Turner said: "I greatly value the links that Shropshire has with the two dioceses which share our wonderful county, therefore I am delighted to be welcoming both Shropshire's diocesan bishops to celebrate Shropshire Day with a shared service."
All are welcome to attend the special service – and dogs are welcome in both churches too.
For those wishing to omit the walk, it is expected that the final part of the service in Sutton Maddock will commence at approximately 4pm.
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