Town Centre Ministry
St Chad's Church plays an important role in the civic life of Shrewsbury.
Our vicar, Mark Thomas, is the chaplain of the Borough Council and three key services are held here each year:
Mayor's Sunday 18th May 11.30am 2008
Battle of Britain in September
Remembrance Sunday in November
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. 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 in 1972. When the government withdrew funding in 2006, the 24 hours Shelter had to close. The Shrewsbury Ark, is a new project (2007) set up 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. However 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. We will offer comfort whenever we can and will always care. We will try to help the vulnerable and those who feel excluded from society back onto their feet and encourage in them the self confidence and self-sufficiency to fend for themselves in the future. Since the Ark opened in late March 2008, encouraging progress has been made. Please click here to read how worthwhile this ecumenical venture is proving to be. The Trustees are anxious to recruit anyone who may be interested in volunteering to help run the Ark. Please contact Chris Walker, Martin Wilson or Ian Somervaille - through contacting the Church Office if you wish.Other local charities supported by St.Chad’s include: Homes for All, the Shrewsbury Furniture Scheme, Salop Clergy/Widows and Orphans Fund, the Severn Hospice, Hope House Hospice for children, HYPS (Housing for Young People), St.Chad’s Trust and the Isaiah 58 project for the homeless.
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.
“Illuminate”, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury – the local Christian book shop.
Whatever Christian resource you're looking for, Illuminate stocks thousands of the latest Christian books and products and has thousands more available online. If you don't see what you're looking for do ask, if it's in print they can almost certainly get it for you.This page is still under construction.