SCTG Shropshire Churches Tourism Group
New Year Newsletter 2026
“The Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme is a lifeline for historic churches – saving them 20 per cent on repair costs. But the future of the scheme is uncertain – and churches, chapels and cathedrals across the country have urgent needs such as leaking roofs and crumbling towers. Heritage and church buildings across the country are at risk of disrepair and closure.” In Shropshire the following are in danger - Bishop’s Castle, Withington, Wrockwardine, Loughton, Cleobury North, Broseley, Alberbury and Jackfield. There is a draft letter on the Website explaining the effect on VAT returns which will affect all churches, on register or not. https://www.discovershropshirechurches.co.uk/ We can all use the letter to send to our MPs. There are 7 constituencies in the county so we can make a good splash if enough of us send it.
Keeping our churches welcoming
With fewer visitors in the cold months of the year it is an opportunity to take a good look at your building. Does it need a tidy-up? Could some furniture be moved to create more space near the entrance. Is your visitor book looking old/scruffy and are visitors signing it? Would a ring binder look better? Does the top of each page have your website address/email address? Does it have an invitation to visitors to become your friends - a small piece of paper that can be folded and put in that hole in the wall that used to collect coins. An email twice a year (no more!) reminding people of their visit is a nice gesture. This is the time of year for sorting these things out.
Keeping our church doors open
It is essential that our member churches have their doors unlocked for visitors. Very few are locked at times and fortunately most are open when they say they are in the brochure and on the website. Remember that our buildings should be open as part of membership. If you provide keys for a locked building, it is essential that instructions for visitors who are not familiar with Shropshire, are clear and the keys are close by. We are fortunate that most our churches are open every day. Keep up the good work.
Membership Signs
We are planning to provide a Membership Sign for member churches as we have done before but not recently. It would demonstrate your welcome to visitors and give SCTG a profile across our churches. Do you think this is a good idea? Please let us know - for or against. sctgoffice@gmail.com
www.discovershropshirechurches.co.uk
The website is for all members. Each building has a space dedicated to your church on the site, and we have a steady number of people checking it out. Today, people planning their holiday will spend quite a bit of time looking for different things in the area they are planning to visit. On the site, as members, you will find ideas for welcoming visitors and for simple ways of explaining the building to them - check under the Resources heading. You can send information about events and they will be added to the site. You can access a monthly article which you can have in advance if you wish to add it to your monthly magazine. It currently goes to 9 Shropshire magazines. sctgoffice@gmail.com. If you are not familiar with the website this is the time to have a look and start adding information about your parishes.
Coach Trip 2026
SCTG ran a successful coach trip in 2025 and are hoping to run some this year. Are you happy to welcome a coach trip to your church. Would you and people from your church like to get on our coach for a great day out? A day out always cheers people up! We keep the price as low as we can too. Look out for a date and itinerary later in the year. Let us know what you think - sctgoffice@gmail.com
Please print this out and put on the church notice board so people know that SCTG is working for your building