Parish Profile St Swithun s Cheswardine Cheswardine The village lies in rural north Shropshire, some 4.5 miles south east of the small town of Market Drayton (pop 12k 2011) which is the nearest all services centre. The civil parish had a population of 1100 in 2011 and contains the hamlets of Soudley, Chipnall and Goldstone. It is surrounded by fields, the Shropshire Union Canal runs through it and it is not on the road to anywhere else. Cheswardine, which dates from Saxon times, is an attractive lively welcoming village of mixed housing. The population is naturally skewed towards the retired but it still has a large number of traditional families and working households. The historical agricultural economy has been augmented by employment in food and service industries. New building has taken place over the last twenty years and there is a good mix of property types. There is a limited amount of social housing. The A41 gives easy access to the motorway network and there are rail stations at Stafford and Telford. The Church Community There are 63 people on the electoral role. The PCC is well attended and well organized. The lay chaired meetings are effective and good humoured. God features as well as gutters. The Parish share is up to date and financially the church is holding its own, although a renewed push on stewardship will soon be due.
Services are held every Sunday at 10 with a Benefice service on the 5 th Sunday at one of the six churches in rotation. Currently the first Sunday is a lay led morning worship, Holy Communion on the second, Family service with the FROGs (Friends Relying on God) youth group with a BCP evensong in the evening on the third and finally Sung Communion on the fourth. A monthly mid-week Communion on a Thursday attracts yet another group of worshippers. The regular format is appreciated. Common Worship is the basis of the services apart from Evensong. Vestments are worn when appropriate and although the choir has officially disbanded, a small group will still robe up when required. We try to maintain a variety in liturgy and tradition to cater for varied tastes. We would encourage more to vary their diet. After service refreshments are a very popular time for fellowship and a real Family of God feeling has developed. There is increasing lay involvement in the services, leading, reading and intercessing. The FROGS Youth group also leads a Celebration Praise service regularly that they prepare and run themselves. Each service tends to have its own congregation but it is hard to stereotype who attends what. The worshippers are ageing and there is a shortage of young families. Part of this is the natural effect of being a small community. Two families leaving the area can wipe out an initiative such as Sunday school, but two other families entering the village and joining the church can be the catalyst for new activities. There are monthly prayer breakfasts on the 2 nd Saturday alternating between the vicarage and the Churchwarden s house opposite the church. There is a monthly hour of prayer on the 4 th Friday at 9am. Oasis is a ladies group for the curious and interested which meets regularly in a member s home. A study group also meets 1 st and 3rd Tuesday evenings. Messy church is held in the parish hall bi-monthly. There is generally goodwill towards the church from the village. Festival services, Christmas, Easter, Christingle, Carols by Candlelight, and Remembrance are usually well attended. There is an expectation from the vast majority of the community that even though they may attend but
rarely, the church will be there for weddings christenings and funerals. We do our best to make everyone feel welcomed and at home during their rites of passage. YOUTH WORK The FROGs youth group has attracted diocesan-wide attention. It draws from across the Deanery but is based in Cheswardine and currently has 20+ members. FROGs (Friends Relying On God) started in 2008 as a way of continuing to involve and nurture the churched youngsters in Hales and Cheswardine aged from 10/11 upwards - in other words those outgrowing a traditional Sunday school. Activities now involve vicar teasing, trips to Nandos, an anarchically faith filled away weekend at the Methodist centre Quinta, (as well as trips to Soul Survivor) pizza and more Nandos. The musically inclined play at the family service and others lead worship at Celebration Praise services held alternately at Cheswardine and Stoke on Tern. They meet weekly in term time at the vicarage in seemingly chaotic fellowship. Many of the original members are now at university but it has become more than a single cohort group as word has
spread. God is really at work in these young people. We regard the continuation of this work as a priority for the new team Rector Infra structure School Cheswardine Primary (ages 5-11) school has three classes of mixed ages and 74 on the roll according to the most recent prospectus. There is a nursery on site. A substantial number of pupils come from outside the village due to family links with Cheswardine. The current vicar is a co -opted governor and regularly leads assemblies. There are plans for a church led after school club. The school holds end of term services in the church. Recent Ofsted reports suggest room for improvement but the school is well supported by the village. With the ebb and flow of demographics the current bulge is in the teen years as evidenced by the large clusters gathering outside the church at school bus times. Most teenagers attend the Grove in Market Drayton although some travel as far afield as Whitchurch or attend the single sex grammar schools in Newport. Community Shop,
This bijou emporium attached to the Fox and Hounds has been open for 7 years. The 8x10 shop is run by volunteers, selling basic supplies, artisan bread, newspapers and locally baked cakes. It has ploughed back 4000 into community groups and projects since opening. It is a valuable Centre for information. Parish Hall A sizeable well equipped building in the centre of the village with an independent Management Board in front of the Playing Field. It is used for receptions, parties, tribute band events, Christmas Fairs, car boot sales and so forth. The church runs two Big Breakfast events there each year along with a Summer Lunch every other year. The hall hosts the 2 nd Tuesday club for the leisured and a monthly Dance club. The bowling green is adjacent and is well patronised. Next door is the Guide Hut home to the thriving Guides, Brownies and Rainbows. The village presently has two pubs. The Fox and Hounds is a Joules house supplied by the local Brewery in Drayton. It serves food and runs various charity events including the popular 5k Fun Run every June. The Red Lion is more beer and conversation based, hosting a monthly book club, singers night and Irish music evening. It also runs an annual Flower and produce show. The current owner is looking to retire and to date no replacement is in sight. Nearby The Wharf is a popular destination pub on the canal side at Goldstone, with a touring caravan site. We hold an open air service Boat Service in the beer garden there during the summer. Goldstone Hall is a renowned country house hotel and is very popular for wedding receptions. Just outside the village is Cheswardine Hall, a well-regarded Nursing and Retirement home. A monthly communion service is held there Church Building
A very attractive and impressive building. Apart from the Tower (1470) and St Katherine s Chapel (15thC), the rest of the church is good Victorian, 1889 by Pearce, the architect of Truro Cathedral. Externally the red sandstone is pretty but crumbly. Internally the stonework is not over complicated, giving the impression of simple dignity. The stained glass is good quality, some by Kempe. There are many interesting features, quirks and details too numerous to list. There is a good 2 manual 22 stop organ and three regular organists. The RSCM organ scholar from Childs Ercall receives tuition on it and plays for services occasionally. There is a well maintained peal of 8 bells dating between 1634 and 1929, and a band of ringers who are enthusiastic but looking for new recruits. Structurally the roofs were repaired in 2010 as was the boundary wall. Some reordering took place in 2011 involving a new wood block floor, a toilet and kitchenette. At the same time a new sound system with sound desk and a chancel mounted screen and projector were installed. This allows paper free services and is great for Carols by Candle light. A screen at the base of the tower to reduce the draught is currently in hand. The heating system is oil fired with radiators and warm air blowers. It works - sometimes quite well! An exposed site at the top of the village means a lot of weathering. The wardens and PCCs over the years have consistently and faithfully maintained the building and it is generally in good condition. The most recent Quinquennial yet again mentioned the long term erosion of external tracery and before long the tower will need repointing. The organ, which unusually is the 1914/18 War Memorial, will before long be due for some rebuilding and updating. The Vicarage 1960 s in the grounds of the old Edwardian vicarage. 4 bedrooms, study, sitting room, all in excellent condition. There was extensive upgrading of the house some two years ago. The kitchen and dining room were remodeled into a kitchen diner and a new bathroom was installed. Part of the garden has been sold off and this has made the garden a manageable size. There is an attached garage. Type of Priest Needed in the Parish We need a Team Rector committed to rural ministry and outreach. Someone who can carry on and grow FROGs and develop work in schools and families to nurture future generations. Pastorally the ageing church membership and wider population needs support and tending.
Such systems as we have work well but are rather ad hoc. Bringing people back as well as to faith is also important. There are many opportunities as well as challenges in Cheswardine. There is a wonderful opportunity to grow God s Kingdom in a lively, friendly and welcoming rural village community.