Venue: Stanton Lacy Village Hall

Supported by the Parish Council and St Peter’s Church, Stanton Lacy has set up ‘Winter Warmer’ soup lunches, operating from the Village Hall. The brainchild of Robin Gatehouse, local farmer and former chair of the Village Hall Committee, the aim has been to offer a place for hot food, warmth and companionship during the winter months.

The first event was held in December 2022. Such was its success that it ran monthly thorughout the winter of 2022/3 and we have kept it going each winter ever since. 

In these difficult times it shows real community strength and just what can be achieved by active local leadership and a range of volunteers. 

So, soup makers step forward please! 

To book your place and/or to provide help at the events contact Robin Gatehouse on 07977 913004 or Jennette Arnold on 07568 083322

Everyone welcome.

Date: Sunday 7th December 2025
Time: 9.15am

From the Church of England website;

"Advent is a season of expectation and preparation, as the Church prepares to celebrate the coming (adventus) of Christ in his incarnation, and also looks ahead to his final advent as judge at the end of time. The readings and liturgies not only direct us towards Christ’s birth, they also challenge the modern reluctance to confront the theme of divine judgement.

The Four Last Things – Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell – have been traditional themes for Advent meditation. The characteristic note of Advent is therefore expectation, rather than penitence, although the character of the season is easily coloured by an analogy with Lent.

The anticipation of Christmas under commercial pressure has also made it harder to sustain the appropriate sense of alert watchfulness, but the fundamental Advent prayer remains ‘Maranatha’ – ‘Our Lord, come’ (1 Corinthians 16.22).

Church decorations are simple and spare, and purple is the traditional liturgical colour. In the northern hemisphere, the Advent season falls at the darkest time of the year, and the natural symbols of darkness and light are powerfully at work throughout Advent and Christmas. The lighting of candles on an Advent wreath was imported into Britain from northern Europe in the nineteenth century, and is now a common practice. The Moravian custom of the Christingle has similarly enjoyed great success in Britain since the latter part of the twentieth century, with the encouragement of the Children’s Society; Christingle services may take place before or after Christmas.

The Third Sunday of Advent was observed in medieval times as a splash of colour in the restrained atmosphere of Advent (Gaudete or ‘Rose Sunday’), and the last days of Advent were marked by the sequence of Great ‘O’ Antiphons, which continue to inspire modern Advent hymns and meditations".

Date: Sunday 14th December 2025
Time: 6.00pm

We have had the Tree of Light since 2015 and each year it shines through the darkness from early December until Epiphany, giving us an opportunity to celebrate the lives of  those we have lost and those we still have and are so grateful for.

We will be getting together in the Churchyard to light the tree and the crib, sing in Christmas and keep warm with mulled wine or spiced apple juice heated on fire pits.

Put the person's name, with a message if you want, on a star and hang it from the tree.

Each star costs £1 and all proceeds will be go to the maintenance of St Peter's. Stars are available for purchase on the night or in advance at the Community Market, Stanton Lacy Village Hall.

Alternatively, you can buy your star by Jennette Arnold on ‭07568 083322.

If you would sooner buy online, then go to the DONATE page of this website, follow the links through to the payment section and specify the amount you would like to donate. When you get to the comments section just add in the words 'Tree of Light' and you can pick up your star when you come to the service.

Please join us - it will be lovely to see you and sing together.

 

 

Date: Wednesday 24th December 2025
Time: 3pm - 4pm

Venue: Stanton Lacy Village Hall

The Christmas Eve Carols event will take place place as usual in the Stanton Lacy Village Hall.

Members of the Congregation will join with others across the Parish as we all sing our favourite traditional Christmas carols.

Everyone welcome.

 

Date: Wednesday 24th December 2025

Time: 11.30pm

Gather with us for Midnight Mass as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ into the world.

This late-night service starts on Christmas Eve and ends just after midnight, so you’re among the first to celebrate Christmas!

Date: 7th and 8th February 2026

Time: From 2pm to 4.30pm

From mid-January to mid-February each year our churchyard is carpeted in a wonderful display of snowdrops, referred to as “one of the Springtime glories of South Shropshire”.

The snowdrops have been part of our landscape for over 150 years. They were planted originally by Mrs Emma Mary Bowles, the wife of the Rev Joseph Bowles, who was vicar at St Peter’s Church from 1847 to 1879.

Nowadays the display attracts visitors from across the West Midlands.

Throughout the second weekend of February we offer refreshments, homemade cakes and preserves all available to buy. Join us to enjoy this wonderful show and help raise funds for the Church.

Everyone welcome.

Date: From May 2025 onwards

Venue: St Peter's Church

Thankyou to everyone who made the charity book launch of "The Temptation and Downfall of the Vicar of Stanton Lacy" on  17th May 2025 such a success.

As background, on the inner south wall of our church is a plaque listing all the vicars who have served here since 1300. Halfway down the list, in 1679, are the dates of the Reverend Robert Foulkes. What is doesn’t say is why his time there ended so abruptly. He was hanged that year at Tyburn.

 His tale is a moving account of a forbidden, passionate love affair that turns sour, of village jealousies, of the joys and troubles of an agricultural Shropshire community in the aftermath of the Restoration. And as Pembridge historian Dr Peter Klein points out in his moving and accurately told tale, it is a universal story of the struggles of human nature. Dr Klein has managed to discover archive material which brings the whole drama, known throughout 17th century England, back to life.

 As a fundraiser for local churches, and in particular St Peter’s church where this story begins, the Unwin Charitable Trust has donated copies of this book, with every penny raised going to the church. The normally £12 book is available to all worshippers and visitors in return for a £10 donation to the church.

Copies of the book and details of how to pay are on display in St Peter's.

We would like to thank sincereley the Unwin Charitable Trust for their kind donation of 300 books. We hope that you enjoy reading the book and thank you for your continuing support.

Date: From June 2025 onwards 

Time: 10am to 3pm on Saturdays

Venue: St Peter's Church

At St Peter's we have always opened our doors to a range of activities but with our new kitchen and toilet facilties we can now widen the scope of the events on site. 

We have recently welcomed David Horton, an accomplished local maker and great teacher. David has started to run Basketry Classes here, allowing people the opportunity to gain skills and insight into the ancient art of working with hazel. 

All the details are in the poster opposite. 

We hope you will have a great time.