St Mary the Virgin church is set in the Parish of Edstaston and Coton and is part of the PEW group of churches in North Shropshire - working together with St Chad's Prees and St Mary the Virgin Edstaston.  We are currently in Vacancy

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We are occasionally live streaming some of our services on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pewchurches), uploading them afterwards on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZh4Q1jD0dFPNwMTJ86UtmA) but most services are now 'in-person'.

THE COMING WEEKS IN PEW:

All the following are joint services for the whole benefice and all are welcome!

Sunday 10 November – Remembrance Sunday services are at 10.45 at: St Chad’s Prees; St Mary the Virgin Edstaston; Welsh End Chapel, Whixall

Wednesday 13 November 10.45 Lay-led morning worship, St Mary’s Whixall

Sunday 17 November 11am Family Worship, with crafts and refreshments from 10.45, St Chad’s Prees

Sunday 24 November 4pm Christingle, St Mary’s Whixall

Wednesday 27 November 10.45 Holy Communion, St Mary’s Whixall

Sunday 1 December – Advent Sunday 11.00 am Holy Communion, St Chad’s Prees

Sunday 8 December 11.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary the Virgin Edstaston

Wednesday 11 December 10.45 am Lay-led morning worship, St Mary’s Whixall

Sunday 15 December 11.00 am Family Worship, with crafts and refreshments from 10.45, St Chad’s Prees; 4.00 pm Blue Christmas service, St Mary the Virgin Edstaston

Wednesday 18 December 2 for 2.30 pm Higher Heath Christmas Service, Higher Heath Village Hall

Friday 20 December 6.30 pm Carol Service, St Mary the Virgin Edstaston

Sunday 22 December 4.00 pm Carol Service, St Mary’s Whixall; 6.00 pm Carol Service, St Chad’s Prees

Christmas Eve 3.00pm Crib Service, St Chad’s Prees; 10.00pm Holy Communion, led by Bishop Sarah, St Mary’s Whixall

Christmas Day 8.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary the Virgin Edstaston; 10.00 am Holy Communion, St Chad’s Prees

There is no service in the Benefice on Sunday 29 December

Sunday 5 January 11.00 am Holy Communion, St Chad’s Prees

Wednesday 8 January 10.45 am Lay-led morning worship, St Mary’s Whixall

Sunday 12 January 11.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary the Virgin Edstaston

Sunday 19 January 11.00 am Family Worship, with crafts and refreshments from 10.45, St Chad’s Prees

Wednesday 22 January 10.45 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s Whixall

Sunday 26 January 11.00 am Holy Communion, St Mary’s Whixall

If you wish to book a wedding or baptisms, please email enquiries to [email protected] and we will get right back to you!

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The church is Grade 1 Listed. It dates back to 1150 and is one of the most complete Romanesque buildings in Shropshire. The building has medieval wall paintings and Victorian stained glass windows.  The churchyard is award winning and there is a new Church burial ground donated for community use. There are toilet facilities available at the church.

There is a small but dedicated congregation with members of the wider community attending special/ festival services such as Harvest, Christmas, Easter etc.  There is a two-manual organ built by JJ Binns played by a dedicated organist. Joint and combined services with other PEW congregations offer opportunities to worship as part of a larger group. 

The PCC work extremely hard to fund raise in a variety of creative ways and parishioners work together to maintain the building and grounds. There is a monthly coffee morning during which the 100 Club draw takes place. In 'normal times' this provides an opportunity for informal meetings for the wider community.  The church has a very close relationship with the village hall, often sharing very successful and lively fundraising events, such as their Beer Festival, concerts, comedy nights etc; these events have enabled the hall committee to plan substantial re-development.

The Parish of Edstaston and Coton is long and narrow, extending north from the outskirts of Wem, to the southern edge of Tilstock. There are approximately 720 inhabitants in this rural area, one public house, and the village hall. The village of Edstaston is non-nucleated but the hall is the centre of much of village cultural life. There are many small businesses but primarily the area is agricultural. Young people in the parish usually attend Whixall CE Primary School and Thomas Adams Secondary.

The parish of Edstaston: St Mary the Virgin is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer(s), PSOs. The Diocese of Lichfield’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our PSOs. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services