An Ageing Icon
Greater Churches NetworkFaith in Action – locally
Remembrance Service 2007For information on international organisations to whom we lend support please follow this link and for UK organisations, please follow this link.
Our faith and Mission Statement of “Open doors, Open hearts and Open minds” is expressed locally in a number of ways, as many of us are involved in a whole host of charitable and community projects. Our Mission and Outreach Working Group, chaired by Pat Rantisi, reviews our corporate giving to such bodies on an annual basis. Ten per cent of money received from collections, stewardship and covenant income is given for such work each year. A number of specific events and services relating to mission are organised by the Working Group, which maintains the Mission notice board in the outer vestibule as well as Prayer and Other Information folders in church. Once a year the Working Group members put on a mission supper with a speaker to which everyone is welcome.
St Chad’s Church plays an important role in the civic life of Shrewsbury. Our vicar, Mark Thomas, is the Mayor's chaplain and three keys services are held in our church each year:
May: The Mayor-making services
September: Battle of Britain
November: Remembrance Sunday
Pastoral Care within the local community
Before we look further afield, our ministry begins within our own community. The relationship between St Chad's and the town is one of loving service to our community, especially towards all who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. Back in 1972, it was this ethos of love and service which, for instance, was the inspiration for St Chad's and other churches to found the Shrewsbury Christian Centre for the homeless. When the government withdrew funding in 2006, the 24 hours Shelter had to close.
The Shrewsbury Ark is a project set up in 2008 by the Shrewsbury Christian Centre Association in conjunction with "Churches Together in Shrewsbury" and run by a small group of volunteer Trustees (three of them from our own congregation) motivated by their Christian faith to help the needy. There will be no discrimination against any who wish to use the centre on grounds of religion (or lack of it) or any other diversity. The vision is to develop and operate a direct access day centre for the most vulnerable residents of Shrewsbury, offering them advice and support in a warm and welcoming environment. The Trustees hope that Christians throughout Shrewsbury, as well as elsewhere, together with those of other faiths who believe that the work of their God involves helping the poor and the afflicted, will support the Ark, by prayers, by volunteering practical help or by financial or other donations.
Further information is available at www.shrewsburyark.co.uk
Other local charities supported by St.Chad’s include: The Shropshire Housing Trust, Homes for All, Salop Clergy/Widows and Orphans Fund, the Severn Hospice, Hope House Hospice for children, Age UK www.ageconcernshropshireandtelford.org.uk Shrewsbury Youth for Christ www.yfc.co.uk and Shallowford House – a local retreat centre under-going extensive renovation.
Members of our congregation visit those who are sick and housebound and thereby help to maintain a real link with the Church Community. Both visitors and those who are visited are remembered in prayer. We also have a team of lay people licensed to administer the communion chalice in Church and they are available to take communion to people who are sick or housebound. Please contact the church office if you know of someone who would appreciate either of these visits.