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'Modern day pilgrimage' to mark Shropshire Day

Paul Shuttleworth,BBC Radio Shropshireand
Oprah Flash,West Midlands
News imageBBC Anna Turner, a woman with dark blonde shoulder length hair and a fringe is smiling at the camera and wearing a black blazer with green top underneath and a gold chain. on her shoulder is a white and red bowBBC
Anna Turner, Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, said she hoped the event would bring the community together

A "modern day pilgrimage" to celebrate Shropshire Day will be held with a unique Church of England service spread across two locations.

The service will take place at both ends of a 2.5mile (4km) walk on Sunday, to mark the feast day of Saint Milburga - Shropshire's patron saint, whose day traditionally falls on 23 February.

This year's celebration will bring together the Diocese of Lichfield, covering the northern part of the county including Shrewsbury, and the Diocese of Hereford, which covers the south.

Organisers said the service aimed to honour the shared heritage, faith traditions, and community links that brought the county together.

News imageGoogle General view of St Mary the Virgin Church in Jackfield, a historic church on the side of the road. On the other side of the road are a row of houses and trees in the backgroundGoogle
The event will start at 14:00 GMT at St Mary the Virgin Church in Jackfield

Anna Turner, Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, told BBC Radio Shropshire: "We had this innovative, exciting plan of staging a modern day pilgrimage.

"Half the service will start in Jackfield, then we'll walk to Sutton Maddock, for those that can or want to walk.

"Part of faith is the friendship that it brings and the security of knowing people that aren't going to judge you.

"It's all about that and I hope that friendships will be drawn up between the two councils, two dioceses and two churches."

The afternoon service will begin at 14:00GMT at St Mary the Virgin Church in Jackfield, near Telford.

Worshippers will then make the 2.5‑mile (4km) walk, crossing the River Severn, before concluding the service at the Church of St Mary, Sutton Maddock.

News imageGoogle Maps General view of Church of St Mary, Sutton Maddockk, a historic church with grave stones on grass at the front and two large trees are visble near the gravestonesGoogle Maps
After walking 2.5miles, the congregation will end the service at the Church of St Mary, Sutton Maddock

The service will be jointly led by the Right Reverend Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield, and the Right Reverend Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, and attended by Turner.

A new prayer, written for the occasion by Reverend Prebendary Chris Thorpe of St Andrew's Church, Shifnal, will be introduced during the celebration.

Organisers stressed that everyone is welcome and, in keeping with the inclusive spirit of many rural churches, they added that dogs were welcome in both churches.

Those wishing to take part only in the concluding part of the service could join at Sutton Maddock, where proceedings are expected to begin at about 16:00, they said.

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