Tettenhall Wood and Perton

• Christ Church, Tettenhall Wood
• The Church of the Good Shepherd, Castlecroft
• The Church At Perton

Training Incumbent
The Revd Phil Wootton

Trained: Cranmer Hall, Durham. Deaconed: 2000 Rochester

Phil served his curacy and first post of responsibility in Kent. He has been team rector of Tettenhall Wood since 2012. He brings the experience of 25 years of ordained ministry, and has previously been a training incumbent for three curates. He looks to provide a curate with the stability, space and encouragement they need to develop their gifts as a partner in ministry.

The context

The Parish of Tettenhall Wood has a population of around 11,500 (2021 census) of whom 49% declare themselves to be Christian. The context is suburban, lying on the western fringes of Wolverhampton, and comprising several distinct centres, each with shops, cafes or pubs.

We have two church buildings,

The Church of the Good Shepherd at Castlecroft, a multi-purpose building now celebrating its 80th anniversary; and the more traditional Christ Church in Tettenhall Wood, consecrated in 1866. Both churches provide accommodation during the week for community activities – ranging from Pilates to Parents and Toddlers – as well as having facilities for church groups and social events.

Perton is a separate parish and LEP with the United Reformed Church. Perton is a very distinct community built on a former airfield, and has a population of around 10,000.

Priorities in mission currently focus on both ends of the age range. In schools, we take an Open the Book team into the church infants’ school each week as well as having input into worship at the junior school and supporting their choir, regularly accommodating school visits to the church and hosting end of term services for infants, juniors and a secondary academy. Our monthly messy church known as Criss-Cross is growing in popularity with families, a number of whom have become regular attenders. Conversations with parents in a relaxed setting enable us to extend our missional connection working-age adults.

Our work with older adults focuses on the provision of spaces where they can make connections for themselves. Our weekly Place of Welcome is thriving and attracts a number who do not normally attend church services, as does our Forget-Me-Not Friends support group, which welcomes both those with dementia and carers.

Mission statistics (2024)