On this page:
About us
News and Events in the Parish
Our Rector and key staff
Our weekly Pew Sheet and Reflections
Baptisms, weddings and funerals
Parish Magazines
Tucked away in the north-west corner of Shropshire and on the Welsh border, our four rural parishes worship and work together. You will find us in our communities and our churches:
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The Benefice, part of the Diocese of Lichfield, works together in several ways:
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- On the 5th Sunday of a month there is only one service, for all to come together to worship. It is hosted by each parish in turn.
- The churchwardens meet regularly to discuss and agree as appropriate common approaches, the sharing of resources and calendar details.
- The Chairs of each the Parochial Church Councils (PCC) also meet regularly.
- The identity of the Benefice is promoted through this website, its Facebook page and the Sunday pew sheet.
- The Benefice and parish treasurers work on items of shared expenditure.
There are shared events, often linked to the season, such as the summer evening’s prayer and praise.
For Details of Services at our Parish Churches, go to the individual Church pages.
News and Events in the Benefice
We are seeking a new Rector – and much is happening
Update – 9th April Information has just been received:
The advert for a new incumbent will appear in the Church Times on 17th April, with a closing date of 16th May (midnight).
If there are applications: Shortlisting will be on 9th June. The Familiarisation Day for the Benefice, when candidates can visit the four parishes, would be 19th June. Interviews would be on 20th June.
K Kimber
Update – 28th February 2025 We report that, sadly, there were no applicants for the post advertised recently. We are told that this is not uncommon at this time of year, particularly for rural parishes and benefices. The advert will be run again and we shall report the dates when known.
K Kimber
Update – 17th January 2025 The vacancy has now been advertised, to see the details, click here.
Update – 2nd January 2025 We were delighted to learn that the advertisement for a new Rector for our four parishes will be published in the Church Times and on the Diocese of Lichfield’s website on 17th January. The closing date will be 14th February.
After that there will be shortlisting. This is undertaken by Diocesan staff and an appointed person from each parish. The parishes have already appointed people for this and they will be the people involved in interviewing short-listed applicants on 25th March. Although we feel very positive about this, we know that there is no guarantee that a suitable person will apply and be appointed following this first advert. Once someone is appointed, they will have to give notice and get DBS clearance; this would usually take about three months.
In the March magazine we will give more details about the interview day, which starts with a service, which all are welcome to attend. For the moment we offer the prayer which is at the end of our Benefice Profile, the document applicants consult in order to get to know about us and this area.
GOD OUR FATHER
You have welcomed each one of us in Jesus
and called us to be His Body in this place.
Send us your Holy Spirit,
to fill us with vision, energy,
and faithfulness in prayer,
that we may be true to our calling
to bring new life to our communities.
Guide with your heavenly wisdom
those who are to choose a new Incumbent for this Benefice,
that the one whom we receive
may be a wise and caring shepherd of your people:
ready to serve us with joy,
to build us up in faith,
and to lead us by example
in loving obedience to your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
K Kimber
Update – 12th November 2024 There was a meeting with the Bishop to review the appointment of a new Rector, for more information here.
The four parishes of Llanyblodwel, Llanymynech, Morton and Trefonen together form the Border Benefice, and are part of the Diocese of Lichfield. We are led by a Rector. Following the Rev’d Kathy Trimby’s departure for pastures new, the Diocese has decided that the Benefice should stay together and a new Rector be sought. We are therefore working our way through the proceedings laid down by the Church of England.
Realistically, it is unlikely that we shall have a new Rector for some time yet. Meanwhile, all the parishes are working together; there are services in all the churches every Sunday; special services and events continue; the community cafés flourish – and lots of plans for celebrating harvest are in hand.
For the moment, if you wish to make contact, please get in touch with the churchwardens of your parish, your lay parochial church council chair or the Benefice Administrator. The Lay Chairs are:
Llanyblodwel – Alec Gordon
Llanymynech – Paddy Martin
Morton – Lizzie Lawrence or Lin Hughes
Trefonen – Chris Kirk
On 1 April 24 we welcomed Helen Parish as our Benefice Administrator.
One of the Administrator’s jobs which most people are familiar with is the publication of the weekly pew sheet. This keeps us all up to date with current and forthcoming events, services and activities. It is available on this website as well as in the churches. Helen will accept information for inclusion only from the PCC lay chairs, churchwardens and lay readers, and up to 12 noon on Wednesday. The pew sheet will be printed on Thursday morning.
Helen is planning to spend five hours in the Trefonen Parish Office, in the church on a Thursday from 9.30 a.m.
The Community Cafe in Trefonen is open every Tuesday morning more…
The Community Cafe, Café Blodwel, in Llanyblodwel is open on the first Wednesday of the month more…
Rector
Vacancy.
Benefice Administrator
Helen Parish
Email: bordergroupadmin@hotmail.co.uk
Or write to
The Administrator
All Saints’ Church, Oswestry Road, Trefonen, Oswestry SY10 9DG
Benefice Treasurer
K Kimber
Contact Number: 01691 679646
Email: k.kimber@borderparishes.org.uk
Facebook Page
Jann Downes
Contact Number:
Email: jannet.downes@icloud.com
Facebook page name: Border Group of Parishes
Benefice Lay Readers
Linda Gladman
Contact Number: 01691 671363
Email: lindajgladman@btinternet.com
Rebecca Colpus
Email: rebm29@outlook.com
Rebecca Colpus and Cara
Betty Steele
Contact Number: 01691 652170
Email: betty@treflachfarm.co.uk
Betty Steele – retired but still active!
Baptisms, weddings and funerals:
See our detailed information pages: Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
Listed below is our latest Pew Sheet for viewing/download
Pew Sheet – 18th May 2025
Pew Sheet – 11th May 2025
Our Reflections:
Listed below is our latest Daily Reflection for viewing/download
Daily Reflection – 30th March 2025
Our Prayer Card:
Listed below is our latest Prayer Card for viewing/download
The latest copy (February 2025) of the Morton Parish Magazine is available by clicking here,
The latest copy (May 2025) of the Trefonen and Llanyblodwel Parish Magazine is available by clicking here.
Other links
The Benefice website is linked to other local sites:
Other useful links appear on the individual parish pages.