Nestling in the north of Staffordshire along its border with Derbyshire, the villages of the Longnor Benefice encompass the Peak District and the Moorlands, with rolling hills and acres of heather. We have three churches and two daughter-churches in the Longnor family, along with three Church of England Primary Schools.
Churches in our benefice are committed to Safeguarding and have adopted the National and Diocesan Safeguarding Policies.
Sheen Parish Safeguarding Ofiicer is Malcolm Hawton and can be contacted on 01298 402129
Other churches in our Benefice the Safeguarding Officer is Janet McNicol, who can be contacted on 01298 812053
We believe that the door to salvation is always open and so are the doors to our churches. We strive to show God’s love and concern for his creation at every opportunity. Through works of charity and opening our doors to listen and love, we feel that we are walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Sunday 1st February
11 am Sheen : Holy Communion
Sunday 8th February
11 am Longnor : Holy Communion
Sunday 15th February
9.30 am Newtown : Holy Communion
Wednesday 18th February
11 am Longnor : Ash Wednesday Holy Communion
Sunday 22nd February
2.30 pm Quarnford : Holy Communion
Sunday 1st March
11 am Longnor : Morning Worship
Lent Reflections: Morning Prayer at Newtown Church: 19th & 26th February at 10am
You know how, in dreams you sometimes dream time is moving differently! It certainly feels to me as it its going both incredibly fast and incredibly slowly for me at the moment. Incredibly slowly because I can’t imagine we will ever be retired and settled into Sithean Mor, our new(ish) home on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula (West Coast of Scotland) and incredibly fast because I really cannot imagine how I am going to get everything done by the 5th April. I wonder if Jesus felt time was doing the same thing as he approached his crucifixion? Or Mary as she waited for Jesus’ birth. Or those Magi as they trekked for what we believe to be two years following the star to find Jesus.
February is a very busy month faith wise this year because Easter is so early. We seem to rocket from Epiphany and Candlemas almost directly into Lent. A compression of time from celebrating Jesus’ birth to preparing for his death. Jesus did not begin his ministry until he was in his early 30’s and he was only travelling the land preaching,
teaching healing and miracle making for just 3 years or so. And yet we have the whole of the New Testament which can take up to a year to read properly. So, time shifts about whoever we are, and what we are doing. But we know that God is timeless, eternity is forever and our lives on earth time limited but in eternity not.
However, back to earthly time, February 2026. And Lent. After a surprisingly busy January, despite the weather, Lent begins on the 18th February on Ash Wednesday. I sincerely hope you are all, as is traditional, using up your store cupboard items before the season of abstinence, Well, no, we don’t do that now of course. But we do have pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, my favourite version being just with butter, sugar and lemon juice! And then as is traditional we give things up. But years ago I balked at that because the only person it affected was me. So now I fill up a box daily with foodbank items, one or two a day instead. I give what I choose to do without to others who are doing without all the time. So, I urge you to think about daily giving, rather than daily avoiding.
During Lent the Newtown Thursday Mornings will be Lent Reflections, or you could join the Ipstones Family Group Lent Study Group, reading a book by Teresa White called Hope and the
Nearness of God, at Ipstones Vicarage on the 17th February, 3rd, 10th 17th and 24th March at 7.00 -8.30pm. Let me know if you want to join us.
Have a good February all, every blessing
Revd Jane
