Welcome to the website of
SAINT AIDAN'S CHURCH, SHOBNALL
in the Parish of Saint Aidan and Saint Paul, Burton
Church of England – Diocese of Lichfield

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

Saint Aidan's, on the Shobnall Road (B5017) next to Marston's Brewery and The Albion public house in Burton-upon-Trent, was built in 1884 as a chapel of ease connected to another church in Burton, Saint John the Divine in Horninglow. In 1898 it became a parish church in its own right, and to mark the centenary of this event we held various events in 1998, the centre piece of which was a visit by the Bishop of Lichfield in July of that year to coincide with a flower festival. Since 1 November 2005, however, Saint Aidan's has been part of the newly-created Parish of Saint Aidan and Saint Paul, Burton, and serves as one of two churches in the parish, along with Saint Paul's, whose website can be found here.

Saint Aidan himself was an Irish-born missionary bishop, one of the many Celtic missionaries whose efforts, combined with those of Saint Augustine of Canterbury and his Roman missionaries working from the south, helped restore the Christian faith to England in the Sixth and Seventh Centuries. Based at Lindisfarne off the Northumbrian coast, he was particularly renowned for his gentleness and humility. Among his pupils was the famous Saint Chad, who became Bishop of Mercia and moved the See City from Repton to Lichfield, in which diocese most of Burton lies.

We are particularly proud of our gardens and the nature reserve down by the stream behind the church, which are looked after by devoted volunteer garden staff. The nature reserve is also used as a teaching aid for the school children from the Shobnall Primary School opposite the church. You will also notice the award we won from Burton Civic Society. You can see some pictures on our photo page here .

Sunday services vary according to which Sunday of the month it is; usually the Eucharist (also called the Mass or Holy Communion) is celebrated at 8.00 a.m. on the first and third Sundays, and at 11.00 a.m. on the second and fourth Sundays, with a less formal lay-led "Family Service" at 11.00 a.m. on the first and third Sundays. When there is a fifth Sunday in a month, we often have a joint service with one of the other churches served by our Vicar, Father Paul Farthing, who can be contacted by email on mail@burtonsaintpaul.org.uk. You should also contact Father Paul if you have found this site because you want to arrange a baptism (christening) or wedding. You will normally need to live in the parish, or have a demonstrable connection with either Saint Aidan's or Saint Paul's. As marriage is also a matter or civil law, these requirements are stricter for marriage than for baptism.

As Christians, we are believe that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus reveal God's purpose for the life he gives us, and open the way to eternal life in his presence. This gives meaning to our lives – a meaning we are anxious to share with others. If what you have read here appeals to you, please join us.