About us
Welcome to our parish families at St Peter’s in Ludlow and St Elizabeth’s in Cleobury Mortimer which are the most southerly parishes in the Diocese of Shrewsbury. These churches serve Ludlow, Cleobury Mortimer and the surrounding rural communities.
St Peter’s and St Elizabeth’s are members of the Local Pastoral Area (LPA) of South Shropshire which brings together four local parishes as follows:
- St Peter’s, Ludlow
- St Elizabeth’s, Cleobury Mortimer
- St Milburga’s, Church Stretton
- St Walburga’s, Plowden
The LPA structure was initiated by Bishop Noble in 2007 to enable churches to pool resources across the Diocese of Shrewsbury and so enable greater co-operation between parishes and to prepare for a future when fewer priests will have to cover more parishes.
Parishioners from the four parishes in the LPA take part in the annual day of recollection, usually held at St Peter’s, the annual day pilgrimages and a biennial residential pilgrimage to a site of Christian importance in the UK.
A monthly series of Faith Café talks take place at St Peter’s Parish Centre from September onwards throughout the winter months on a range of religious topics. These are attended by parishioners within the LPA and provide an opportunity for deepening of understanding and discussion all in an informal setting.
Teams from the LPA parishes also take part in social gatherings such as the annual skittles evening.
At St Peter’s and St Elizabeth’s we rejoice in the diversity of our congregations with roots in many nations including India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Nigeria, Zambia, Brazil, Italy, the United States, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, Ukraine, France, Ireland, South Africa and Ecuador. If English is not your first language, there are online Apps available, such as Google Translate, which offer translation free of charge. Just highlight text on this website, copy and paste it into the App after selecting the text and translation languages.
St Peter’s, Ludlow
St Peter’s is located at Henley Road, Ludlow SY8 1QZ, close to the centre of Ludlow and comprises the church, Parish Centre, Parish Lounge and presbytery together with ample free parking for parishioners and a large private garden with lawns and mature trees. Further information about the church is available in this Guide and the History section.
Masses are said daily at St Peter’s and the church is usually open for silent prayer from 8am to midday. There is access for disabled visitors. Toilets are provided in the Parish Centre and there is a loop in church for people who are hard of hearing. Details of church services and other events are included on the homepage and in the weekly newsletter.
The parish priest at St Peter’s is Canon Christopher Walsh, who also covers the parish of St Elizabeth’s at Cleobury Mortimer.
Parish Centre – St Peter’s
The Parish Centre at St Peter’s comprises a kitchen, hall, lounge and adjoining men’s and women’s toilets, including a wheelchair accessible toilet. The Parish Centre is located within easy walking distance of the centre of Ludlow and provides free car parking for users. These facilities provide the parish with a space for church meetings, social events such as the twice-yearly parish meals, and a place to meet over a tea/coffee after morning Mass on Sunday and Wednesday.
This facility is an asset to the parish and is also our offering to the local community. As part of our outreach to the community, the hall is used by National Health Service (NHS) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Support Groups, as well as for gardening club meetings, fitness classes etc and is an important contributor to the parish funds at St Peter’s. If you would like to hire the room for an event or you know someone who is seeking a suitable venue in Ludlow for a meeting or class, please contact Barbara Handy for details of availability and hire rates.
Parish Lounge
The Parish Lounge is used for small social gatherings and parish meetings and for midweek morning Masses during the colder months of the year.
St Elizabeth’s, Cleobury Mortimer
St Elizabeth’s Church is located at 18 Lower Street, Cleobury Mortimer DY14 8AL and comprises a church with a small church hall and kitchen together with an adjoining car park and garden.
The church, which was opened in 1962, is an important part of the strong catholic heritage originating in this part of Shropshire and, as such, has links with the Blount Family of Mawley Hall (see our History page and https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/cleobury-mortimer-st-elizabeth/).
Mass is said at 9.00am on Sunday morning at St Elizabeth’s and at other times as detailed in the newsletter.
Church Hall
The church hall is provided with tables, chairs and fully equipped kitchen and can accommodate a maximum of 40 people. Free car parking is provided adjacent to the church.
This facility is generally hired to local charity and support groups with occasional private hiring for events. If you would like to hire the hall, please contact Yvonne Colquitt for details of availability and hire rates on 07790 890040.