A special church service for Shropshire Day 2026
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Each February, the ceremonial county of Shropshire celebrates Shropshire Day on 23 February, which is the feast day of Saint Milburga, the county’s patron saint.
St Mary’s Church, Sutton Maddock, Shifnal
This year a special event is being planned to mark the occasion – a three location Church of England service spanning the River Severn on Sunday 22 February 2026.
Shropshire is part of both the Diocese of Lichfield (the Northern part of the county including Shrewsbury) and Diocese of Herefordshire (the southern part of the county), and this service is being arranged to celebrate both Dioceses’ link to the county.
The afternoon of worship will commence at 2pm in St Mary the Virgin Church, Jackfield and then proceed with a walk of approximately 2.5 miles which starts in the Diocese of Hereford and the Telford and Wrekin Council area, cross the River Severn and concludes in the Diocese of Lichfield and the Shropshire Council area at the Church of St Mary, Sutton Maddock. The service will thus bring together all parts of the county.
The service will be led by The Rt Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Bishop of Lichfield and The Rt Revd Richard Jackson, Bishop of Hereford, in the presence of Anna Turner, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire.
A new prayer has been drafted by the Revd. Preb. Chris Thorpe of St. Andrew’s Church, Shifnal, and it is hoped that both Dioceses will encourage the use of the new collect in Sunday services.
Mrs Turner said:
‘I greatly value the links that Shropshire has with the two Dioceses which share our wonderful county, therefore I am delighted to be welcoming both Shropshire’s Diocesan Bishops to celebrate Shropshire Day with a shared service.’
All are welcome to attend the special service – and dogs are welcome in both churches too!
For those wishing to omit the walk, it is expected that the final part of the service in Sutton Maddock will commence at approximately 4pm.
About St Milburga
Milburga was a daughter of King Merewalh, whose kingdom covered parts of the Midlands including the modern counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire.
Milburga became a nun at the monastery of Much Wenlock, founded by her father and Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury, who eventually installed her as abbess. She was sought in marriage by a neighbouring prince, who was willing to use violence to compel her. She escaped across a river which then miraculously became so swollen that the prince was unable to ford it.
She was noted for her humility, her gift of healing and is said to have had a mysterious power over birds; they would avoid damaging the local crops when she asked them to.
She died on 23 February 727 and so 23 February, her feast day, is now celebrated as Shropshire Day.
A map of the route
