Telford Minster

• Telford Minster - www.telfordminster.org.uk

Training Incumbent
The Revd Laura Lenander

Trained: St Mellitus Deaconed: Lichfield, 2021

Laura is an artist and a priest, passionate about seeing people grow and flourish in their calling. She takes great joy in walking alongside others, nurturing their spiritual gifts, and equipping them for life and ministry.

Married to Mike and mum to their 20-year-old daughter, Katelyn, she brings both family experience and creative insight to her leadership. Laura’s heart is for the Kingdom of God to grow across Telford, seeing lives transformed by Jesus, churches revitalised, and communities renewed. She leads with authenticity, imagination, and prayer, encouraging others to discover their unique place in God’s mission.

The context

Telford Minster serves a vibrant and diverse community at the heart of Telford, a large and fast-growing Shropshire town with both urban and suburban areas, surrounded by pockets of rural life. Our congregation reflects the rich variety of the town itself, with over 20 different first languages spoken among us, and people from many nations, cultures, and backgrounds worshipping together. This diversity extends beyond ethnicity to encompass a wide range of social and economic contexts, from professionals and students to those navigating unemployment, homelessness, or other vulnerabilities.

Our mission is shaped by this reality: we are called to be a place where everyone is welcome, especially those on the margins of society. We are intentional in creating spaces where people can encounter the love and hope of Jesus, whether for the first time or in deeper ways. We regularly see people come to faith, often weekly, and have a growing awareness of the need to nurture these new believers into lifelong disciples of Christ. As a designated resource church for the town, we are committed to partnering with local churches across Telford and beyond. This gives us rich opportunities to visit and support different contexts, rural, suburban, and urban, sharing resources, encouragement, and practical support. These partnerships are mutual, strengthening the wider body of Christ and enabling mission in places where there is great opportunity and need.

Our ministry is dynamic and responsive, blending creative, Spirit-filled worship with practical acts of service. We prioritise hospitality, prayer, and equipping people for mission in their everyday contexts. We carry a vision to see Telford transformed by the Kingdom of God, with lives restored, churches revitalised, and communities renewed. In a town of contrasts, we are committed to being a unifying presence, building bridges across cultures and circumstances, and embodying the good news of Jesus in both word and action.

Telford Minster is a unique place to complete a curacy, offering many opportunities to grow. With plans to church plant in the coming years, we provide space for the right candidate to explore their gifts and calling in a supportive and dynamic environment.

Telford Minster's church leadership primarily holds a conservative evangelical position, Telford Minster is committed to being a welcoming community where all are invited to encounter the love of Jesus and find a place to belong. 

Mission statistics (2024)