The opening verses of one of the Gospels about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ says the following words about him:
“… to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us… “ (John 1 v.12-14a)
“in his name, he gave power”… and we are the PoWA Parish!
“… to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us… “ (John 1 v.12-14a)
“in his name, he gave power”… and we are the PoWA Parish!
“The Parish of Wigmore Abbey” (PoWA):
This is name given to our local multi-church Parish in this northern part of rural Herefordshire.
Our hope and prayer is that those who engage in the life of our churches will be enabled by God’s love and power - at work amongst us – to share his Good News, love, life, light, power and hope with all who visit us, and with others whom we live alongside in our local communities. Our congregations meet for worship in Adforton, Brampton Bryan, Downton, Elton, Leinthall Starkes, Leintwardine, Pipe Aston and Wigmore.
With services in eight churches and one village hall, we hold a wide range of services styles: using Common Worship, Book of Common Prayer and some occasional forms of Fresh Expressions. We are very Rural, set in outstandingly beautiful countryside with a remarkable history.
If you are visiting this area or indeed live anywhere within our large Parish, or nearby, please come and join us! I do hope you find an open and warm welcome at any of the services or other events across our churches, villages and Parish.
Revd Adrian Thompson, Priest-in-Charge, Parish of Wigmore Abbey
This is name given to our local multi-church Parish in this northern part of rural Herefordshire.
Our hope and prayer is that those who engage in the life of our churches will be enabled by God’s love and power - at work amongst us – to share his Good News, love, life, light, power and hope with all who visit us, and with others whom we live alongside in our local communities. Our congregations meet for worship in Adforton, Brampton Bryan, Downton, Elton, Leinthall Starkes, Leintwardine, Pipe Aston and Wigmore.
With services in eight churches and one village hall, we hold a wide range of services styles: using Common Worship, Book of Common Prayer and some occasional forms of Fresh Expressions. We are very Rural, set in outstandingly beautiful countryside with a remarkable history.
If you are visiting this area or indeed live anywhere within our large Parish, or nearby, please come and join us! I do hope you find an open and warm welcome at any of the services or other events across our churches, villages and Parish.
Revd Adrian Thompson, Priest-in-Charge, Parish of Wigmore Abbey
Developing Our Parish Vision
Going forward' after our Autumn 2024 Parish Vision Morning
Matthew 17:5 "... a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!:
On Saturday 17th October 2024, we gathered together for our Parish Vision Morning – a shared time of listening - through worship, prayer and discussion - both to God and to one another. Inspired by Jesus’ own parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29) we used a garden theme to inform our discussions and exercises, provoked by the question "If your church was a garden, what kind of garden would it be? Then, as initial foci for our forward planning, praying and acting – all present at this event were asked to choose 'one thing' to become a 'realistic' and 'achievable' next step in progressing the lives and ministries of our churches, as list below:
The outcome of our Parish Vision Day and later PCC consultations:
At our 28th July 2025 Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting, we agreed the following set of Parish-wide priorities which link to the acronym (TPOWA) for The Parish Of Wigmore Abbey:
Matthew 17:5 "... a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!:
On Saturday 17th October 2024, we gathered together for our Parish Vision Morning – a shared time of listening - through worship, prayer and discussion - both to God and to one another. Inspired by Jesus’ own parable of the growing seed (Mark 4:26-29) we used a garden theme to inform our discussions and exercises, provoked by the question "If your church was a garden, what kind of garden would it be? Then, as initial foci for our forward planning, praying and acting – all present at this event were asked to choose 'one thing' to become a 'realistic' and 'achievable' next step in progressing the lives and ministries of our churches, as list below:
- Watch episodes of the Netflix series 'The Chosen' - about the life of Jesus - with the wider community (Leintwardine for Parish and open to all)
- Develop a shorter communion service (Leintwardine and Brampton Bryan)
- Replace one monthly morning service with a 4pm service of a different style (Leintwardine)
- Launch a Parish-wide Messy Church
- Develop some more 'seeker-friendly' services (Leinthall Starkes)
- Install a toilet (Downton)
- Develop the church's village hall function (Adforton)
The outcome of our Parish Vision Day and later PCC consultations:
At our 28th July 2025 Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting, we agreed the following set of Parish-wide priorities which link to the acronym (TPOWA) for The Parish Of Wigmore Abbey:
Some photographs from our Parish Vision Event:
The Churches in Our Parish.
How We Work as a Parish.
We are a parish family aiming to keep all of our churches open and functional with the support of the parish members and volunteers. To this extent, we have recently re-introduced worship services in St. James, Wigmore.
Our priest-in-charge goes around the Parish every Sunday making sure that Holy Communion can be given in most of our churches with the larger number of parishioners, this is why there is no Holy Communion each week at every church. Volunteer lay ministers aid in having morning prayer and evensong services available by organising and leading them for all to attend.
Our priest-in-charge goes around the Parish every Sunday making sure that Holy Communion can be given in most of our churches with the larger number of parishioners, this is why there is no Holy Communion each week at every church. Volunteer lay ministers aid in having morning prayer and evensong services available by organising and leading them for all to attend.
Which Church Should I Attend?
Often you want to attend the church nearest to you, but in the Parish of Wigmore Abbey we encourage you to go to the various churches in our Parish and get to know the different Christians in our community. As well as offering services in our churches we have a joint Bible Group in Leintwardine and often host various events across the Parish.
