Pride event at Church to return to Shifnal this year

Shifnal Pride, held at St. Andrew’s Church in Shropshire will return for a second year in 2025. The event aims to united LGBTQ+ people and people of faith in a pride celebration held at the church. The inaugural event was a great success with more than 100 people attending a special Pride service which was later streamed online more than 8,000 times.

Image by Ian Handley

"It was quite new to us, we weren't sure how it was going to go... but it was so successful it's back again," said organiser Ian Handley, talking with BBC Shropshire.

"We felt this huge need to pull these communities together,” he explained. "We're hoping to tie in some of the things from last year to try and link it all nicely together."

This year's event which will be held on Sunday 1st June from 6pm (BST) will, for the second year running, feature performances from the town's youth theatre group, CentreStage, who will perform music at the church’s pride service. The service which will be led by a group of volunteers, including lead Ian, will be streamed on Facebook and YouTube for those unable to attend in person.

In attendance will reportedly be the Lord Lieutenant and Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, some of the town's councillors, as well as the church's vicar and a number of other clergy.

This year’s event has been shaped by feedback from the community regarding the first event.

"With it being slightly different in a church, we had things to shape from the Church of England," Handley said.

"That really helped us kind of weave into our service things that were important to both communities.

"We're trying to keep a mix of contemporary and traditional songs and hymns… to make sure that we tick all boxes for all people of all faiths.