Plans finalised for annual Shropshire Day celebrations
There will be church services along the River Severn
Plans have been finalised for the annual Shropshire Day celebrations, including a special church service.
Three services are set to take place along the River Severn to mark the occasion.
What is Shropshire Day?
Shropshire Day celebrates the county's patron saint: Saint Milburga. She died on February 23rd 727, making February 23rd 'Shropshire Day'.
She was the daughter of King Merewalh. His kingdom covered parts of the Midlands, including modern-day Shropshire, where she became a nun at the monastery of Much Wenlock.
She was noted for her humility, her gift of healing and is said to have had a mysterious power over birds. Allegedly they would avoid damaging the local crops when she asked them to.
The 2026 celebrations...
The church services will take place on the Sunday before Shropshire Day: 22nd February 2026.
An afternoon of worship begins at St Mary the Virgin Church in Jackfield at 2pm. Those attending will then be invited to walk around 2.5 miles to attend the other church services.
A new prayer has been drafted for the occasion, which will be used in the services.
Dogs are welcome at the three services too. The final part will take place at the Church of St Mary in Sutton Maddock at around 4pm for anyone choosing not to walk.
Uniting the two Diocese...
The idea is to unite the two Diocese that make up Shropshire: the Diocese of Lichfield and Herefordshire.
Attending the three services will involve walking from the Diocese of Hereford, across the River Severn and finishing at the Diocese of Lichfield.
Anna Turner, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire said: ‘I greatly value the links that Shropshire has with the two Dioceses which share our wonderful county, therefore I am delighted to be welcoming both Shropshire’s Diocesan Bishops to celebrate Shropshire Day with a shared service.’