New Bishop of Ludlow meets locals on first tour of diocese

The new Bishop of Ludlow continued his tour of his new diocese with a trip to Clun and the Upper Clun Valley, Bishop’s Castle, and Churchstoke.

The visit by the Rt Rev Alistair Magowan on Saturday was co-ordinated by Richard Shaw, the vicar of Clun and Rural Dean for that area of Shropshire.

Bishop Magowan said he enjoyed the opportunity to meet lots of people.

The bishop started his day at Clun Primary school, meeting the head teacher Heather Smith. From there he headed up the Clun Valley to Three Birches Farm to have coffee with a group of local farmers at the home of Sandra Davies, Churchwarden at Newcastle Church and a member of the Local Ministry Team in that area of the Deanery. From there headed for Bishop’s Castle Community College.

"I think it is very important to start immediately trying to understand local farming needs and issues and chatting to young people who live in one of the most rural parts of a very rural diocese," said the bishop.

In the afternoon, the new bishop was driven around the deanery which covers the south west corner of Shropshire from and over the Welsh border to just west of the A49.