Ledbury Deanery
See also the Diocese of Hereford , Deaneries and Events in Hereford Diocese.
DIARY
The Revd Preb Robert Ward who was the Rural Dean of Ledbury Deanery prior to Ledbury Deanery's enlargement, is retiring at the end of April. His Farewell Service is on Sunday 27th April at St James the Great, Cradley at 10.45 for the service. This will be followed at 12.30 (ish) for a buffet lunch in the Village Hall (next door). Everyone is welcome, but please let the churchwardens know if you intend coming so that they have approximate numbers for Communion and refreshments.
Ledbury Deanery Synod dates:
Thursday 15 May 2025 at 7.30pm in St Peter’s, Withington when members of the Safeguarding team will talk to the synod
Saturday, 13th September 2025, 9.30am-1pm Bishop's Teaching Event, St Michael and All Angels Church, Ledbury
Wednesday September 24 2025 at St Michael & All Angels, Ledbury at 7.00 pm
Saturday February 7 2026 at Holy Trinity, Bosbury at 10.30 am
Ledbury Deanery
"Our Churches are open for everyone, no matter faith or lack of it, no matter creed, no matter condition, no matter age, no matter need."
Benefice Groupings
For each Church found by searching A Church Near You there is a [More Info] tab detailing the benefice and Deanery.
Cradley, Mathon and Storridge: - Rector Rev. Preb. Robert Ward (retires on 30th April 2025)
Colwall, Upper Colwall and Coddington: - Rector Rev. Preb. Melanie Horton. The Revd Andrew Falconer was ordained on 29th June 2024.
Ledbury and Eastnor: - Rector Keith Hilton-Turvey
Hop Churches: Ashperton, Bosbury, Canon Frome, Munsley, Stoke Edith, Stretton Grandison, Tarrington, and Yarkhill - Rector Amanda Williams, Associate Minister The Revd Preb Nicky Seabright
Cider Churches: Aylton, Little Marcle, Much Marcle, Putley, Pixley, Wellington Heath and Yatton. - Team Vicar Rev. Val Tait: Associate Minister The Revd William Symonds
The Revd Preb. Dr Chris Moore, Rector, FOWNHOPE with MORDIFORD, BROCKHAMPTON and FAWLEY and WOOLHOPE. The Revd Owen Pembery is curate at Fownhope
The Revd. Tiffany Jackson is Rector, LUGWARDINE with BARTESTREE, WESTON BEGGARD, DORMINGTON, WESTHIDE and WITHINGTON - (The Bartestree Cross Group)
Ledbury Deanery Officers
Role of Rural Dean.
The Rural Dean is appointed by the Bishop and is given by him a share in the pastoral oversight, spiritual leadership, encouragement and development of mission and general administration of the Deanery. He has a particular pastoral responsibility for the clergy of the Deanery, and provides a link between them and the Bishop and the Archdeacon. In his leadership role the Rural Dean is joined by the Lay Co-Chairman of the Deanery Synod. The Rev. Preb. Robert Ward, rector of Cradley with Mathon and Storridge, was appointed in September 2013. Rev. Preb. Robert retired from this post on 1st April 2023.
The Rural Dean is The Revd Preb. Dr Chris K W Moore, Rector of Fownhope, Mordiford, Brockhampton and Woolhope with Checkley, Diocese of Hereford
Role of Lay Co-Chairman.
The Lay Co-Chairman, elected by the Deanery Synod, aims to bring together the views of the parishes of the Deanery on issues of common purpose, and then to discuss and formulate common policies on these issues. In the process of doing this to foster a sense of community and interdependence among those parishes and generally to promote in the Deanery the whole mission of the Church - pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Kevin Hewison was elected as Lay Co-Chair on 24 June 2021.
Deanery Synod Secretary from October 2023: Jennifer Harrison
Treasurer: Andrew Mence, retired from this now vacant post 1st June 2023.
Deanery of Ledbury, Our Vision
Our Mission Statement
Our vision is of a lively and growing Church in all our parishes, to be seen very much at the centre of spiritual and social life in each community.
Our priority, together with the Diocese, is to reach out to all - taking the Good News of the Gospel out into the community, as well as offering an open door and an encouraging welcome to those who seek to be part of the body of Christ.
The Deanery will support all our parishes in reaching out, each in their various ways, to the wider community, and encourage those parishes and churches who seek to offer fresh expressions of Church.
Our Aim
To offer any support which might best be provided and organised by the Deanery which the parishes believe would be of help to them in their mission, and in our joint mission.
In this it is the Deanery's intention to encourage and inspire parishes in their work- but not to impose or dictate. As the Deanery is no more than the sum of its parishes working together, our over-riding principle is to allow the parishes to be prime.