The Benefice of St Chad's with St Mary and St Alkmund's, Shrewsbury

Tradition:

Central
Anglo-catholic

Monthly services:

St Chad's - 12,
St Alkmund's - 8

Schools, colleges:

Shrewsbury High School (A day Girl's School, of which the Vicar is ex-officio Governor, located next to St Chad's). They hold special services at St Chad's throughout the year.
Shrewsbury School (A well known, co-educational boarding school, located in the parish of St Chad's). They have their own School Chaplain who has a good relationship with the Vicar of St Chad's, and they hold special services at St Chad's throughout the year
Shrewsbury Colleges Group (A sixth Form College, with three Campuses in the town, one of which is located in the parish of St Chad's). They hold their yearly graduation service at St Chad's.
St Winefride's RC Primary School - An independent Roman Catholic Primary School, located close to St Chad's. Some members of the congregation of St Chad's have family members who attend. Their main pastoral relationship is with Shrewsbury Catholic Cathedral (also located close to St Chad's)

Archdeaconry:

Walsall Salop Lichfield Stoke-upon-Trent

Training Incumbent
The Revd Samuel Mann

Trained: Ripon College Cuddesdon. Deaconed: 2017 Hereford

I was born in the Black Country (hence being a passionate fan of Wolves FC!), then grew up in south Shropshire from the age of 9. After training at Cuddesdon, I served my curacy in the benefice of Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge, and Little Wenlock in Hereford Diocese. I then moved to become rector of the Apedale Benefice, looking after four rural churches in south Shropshire, before becoming vicar of St Chad's and St Alkmund's in Shrewsbury in 2023. I am married to Aisha, have two daughters, and love all things sport, history, travel, and Shrewsbury itself.

The context

The benefice covers the centre of Shrewsbury. Ministering here is rewarding, challenging, and multifaceted, reflecting the diversity of issues that would be found in a town of this size.

Ministry to the homeless community is important to the benefice, and we have a strong relationship with The Ark, the local homeless charity.

Services in Advent, Christmas, Lent and Holy Week draw in some of the largest attendances of the year, with around 1,000 attending St Chad's for the service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Both churches are used frequently for occasional offices, and these services are valued opportunities for mission and pastoral care. St Chad's also holds the town's civic services throughout the year.

St Chad's worships in the Catholic tradition, with three services across a Sunday. The 8am Said Eucharist has a congregation of around 25. The Choral Eucharist at 10am has a congregation of around 100. Worship at the 10am is assisted by the choir (regarded as one of the finest in the region), a full altar team, and includes incense on feast days. Many families make use of the children's corner at the front of church, and the contribution of children is a valued part of church life. Refeshments are served after the service. At Choral Evensong at 6pm, (Said Evening prayer in school holidays), the choir lead the majority of the service, with around 30 congregation members.

At St Alkmund's the worship is more central in tradition. There is a sung Eucharist at 10 am on Sundays, and a midweek Eucharist on Thursdays. Again, refreshments are served after the service. The 10 am at St Alkmund's has a congregation of around 25, while the midweek Eucharist has a congregation of 15. The benefice offers a rich and rewarding curacy experience.

Mission statistics (2024)

	Electoral Roll	Usual Sunday Attendance Adults	Usual Sunday Attendance Children	Thanksgivings	Baptisms	Marriages	Funerals (church)	Funerals (crem)
places
Total	337	144	14	0	42	20	52	31

Page last updated: Wednesday 11th June 2025 11:04 AM