Baschurch and Weston Lullingfield with Hordley

• All Saints' Baschurch
• Holy Trinity, Weston Lullingfields
• St Mary the Virgin, Hordley
• Website for all three: .

Training Incumbent
The Revd Linda Cox

Trained: Queen's Foundation; Birmingham. Deaconed: 2012 Leicester

Originally from Leicestershire, I worked as a general nurse in hospitals and with children in primary school. I was ordained in 2012 and served my curacy in north west Leicestershire, a mix of rural and old mining communities, before moving to Shropshire. Being a priest is a privilege and I love to walk alongside people as they come to know Jesus. Churches are part of the community they serve, being open, accessible and welcoming to all, I encourage the churches to be that. I have a passion for occasional offices and I love to sing, read, walk and be creative!

The context

A rural Benefice with many local farms. Creation is important to us and we worship outside as well as in, with a monthly Forest Church. We've celebrated Harvest in one of our local farmer's barns complete with machinery and grain.

The oldest and smallest church at Hordley, is on the edge of a farm. The congregation is a gathered mainly retired community from neighbouring villages, the church is situated outside the village.

Holy Trinity Weston Lullingfields is situated between two halves of the village. It has a small village school with approximately 35 pupils and offers flexi-schooling. Most pupils come from outside the village. There is a well-used village hall, which offers a pop pub for residents. The community is mainly retired professionals or farmers.

All Saints' Baschurch, the biggest church in the benefice is in a village that is growing with several new housing developments in recent years and continuing. It has a full range of amenities including a GP surgery, Spar shop, two pubs both with restaurants. There is a large primary school, a secondary school and Walford College on the outskirts of the village. The church is well used by the community with a good mix of ages in the village. As part of our outreach we run Cafe Community Lunches and carer and toddler group. It is also used by the local Brownies, Guides and the Women's Institute.

Our congregations have few young people on Sundays, but we are in the schools every week and the toddler group has worship including singing, Bible passages and prayers in their sessions. Our services offer a mix of traditional and contemporary. There are two prayer groups, a Bible study group and a thought for the day, plus discipleship courses. We believe in being visible in our communities.

We would be looking to use the Prayers of Love and Faith as part of our ministry here at Baschurch and Weston Lullingfield with Hordley.

Mission statistics (2023)