Welcome to
All Saints Church of England
Hengoed with Gobowen
Chirk Road
Gobowen, Shropshire

If you want information on someone who was baptised, married or was buried at St Barnabas Hengoed or All Saints Gobowen we will try to help you and if necessary provide a certified copy of marriage or baptism.

Please note that in accordance with normal Church of England practice a fee is payable for searches and copies of certificates. Contact the priest in charge for such requests: arb2@totalise.co.uk.

All Saint's Church hall is situated in the ground of the church. It is available for bookings for most functions and has a fully equipped kitchen.

Regular users (i.e. weekly or monthly users) will be charged £20 per session (a session is morning, afternoon or an evening).
Occasional users will be charged £25 per session.
All day users will be charged £54.

Contact Mike Stokes on 01691 662957.

If you are interested in being confirmed, or would like to find out more about the Christian faith, then contact The Revd Adrian Bailey for the latest details of courses available (arb2@totalise.co.uk).

If you live in Hengoed or Gobowen, it's usually possible to be baptised at All Saints. If you don't live in Hengoed or Gobowen you would have to show a connection, and a baptism could only go ahead if the vicar in the parish where you live gave permission.

The baptism of babies and young children usually take place during our informal family service at 11.00 am on the first Sunday of the month. Guests coming to the service who are not used to church often find this more user-friendly than a communion service. However, if this is difficult for you for whatever reason, we are happy to consider having a baptism at one of our other 11.00 am Sunday services.

Preparation sessions are held with the parents beforehand to help them to understand the implications of the promises they will be making.

For older children and adults who want to be baptised, a lengthier preparation is usual.

The baptism service, and the promises you will be making, can be viewed on the Church of England website, www.churchofengland.org. If you felt that in all honesty you could not make the baptism promises before God, we would be happy to consider a service of thanksgiving as an alternative.

To apply, please contact The Revd Adrian Bailey (arb2@totalise.co.uk).

All Saint's church is a perfect venue for your wedding. Not only will you have a warm welcome, but the traditional stone-built design, the award-winning churchyard (one of the best kept in Shropshire), and the light and airy interior make it perfect for photos. Having God's blessing on your wedding is the best way to start married life.

If at least one partner lives in Hengoed or Gobowen and neither of you has been married before, you should normally be able to get married at All Saint's. Following a change of law on 1st October 2008 people with a connection with Gobowen parish (which is defined in law) can also be married in the church. For full details see the Church of England website. In accordance with the Church of England's practise, those who have been married and divorced cannot normally be remarried in church. However in certain cases, providing certain conditions are met, an exception can be made.

We are also happy to conduct services of blessing - both for those who have just got married in a civil ceremony and also for those who were married years ago but want their marriage blessed.

The marriage service, and the promises you will be making, can be viewed on www.churchofengland.org - www.weddingguideuk.com is another useful site for making your wedding preparations.

To apply, please contact The Revd Adrian Bailey (arb2@totalise.co.uk).

The fees for 2013 are as follows:
      £381 standard Church of England fee
      £21 calling of banns of marriage*
      £4 marriage certificate
      £12 verger
The following are optional extras:
      £40 organist
      £10 ringing of bells
      £20 license to use video

We regret the price increase over 2012. This is entirely due to new standard Church of England fee, which is set nationally and by law, and over which we have no control.

On 16^th August 1849 the foundation stone was laid for St Barnabas Church, Hengoed. Built and designed by the Revd Albany Rossendale Lloyd, the church was built of stone and strengthened with buttresses, between which were Lancet shaped windows. The roof had a long pitch constructed of rafters.

The church was opened for Divine Service on the feast of St Barnabas, 11^th June 1850. It was not consecrated until 15^th August 1853. A North Transept was added in 1855 and in 1871 a stained glass window was installed in the transept in memory of Albany Rossendale Lloyd's father, the Revd Charles A.A. Lloyd, who had been Rector of Whittington and Selattyn. The window was called 'The dawning of the last day' by Ashwin of London. In 1873 a bell turret was erected which housed three bells. The Revd Albany Rossendale Lloyd built Hengoed Vicarage close to the church. He was the first Incumbent, and served the people of Hengoed for 42 years. He died on 23^rd March 1895 and is buried in the churchyard.

In 1950 the centenary was celebrated. In 1975 a flower festival was held to celebrate the 125^th anniversary. But a devastating quinquennial survey that year uncovered dry rot in the timbers. On 20^th May 1979 the last service took place. On 1^st June it officially closed. A legal battle to save it was lost and on 4^th January 1985 it was demolished. It had served the community for 135 years.

Today St Barnabas churchyard is a peaceful place to visit. The font remains as a memorial, standing on a base of stone, one of which is the original foundation stone. Further information can be obtained on 01691 658876.

All Saints Church Gobowen was consecrated in June 1928. Previously the Parish Church was St Barnabas Hengoed, so Gobowen became a daughter church. The parish was in the Diocese of St Asaph prior to the disestablishment of the Welsh church when it became part of the Diocese of Lichfield.

The chancel and the main part of the nave were erected first, including a vestry at the east end. Then the west end was added, a tower in 1935, and a belfry in 1948. In December 1979 it was burned down and all that was left was the choir vestry, four walls and tower. It was rebuilt and in October 1981 rededicated by the Bishop of Lichfield.

It is worth noting the East Window which was designed by Lawrence Lee, and also the West Window which was donated from a redundant church near London in memory of a previous incumbent and his wife. The Royal coat of Arms was removed from St Barnabas Hengoed when it was declared redundant. Also worth noting is the Maquette of the Virgin Mary and child given in memory of a member of the congregation who worked for many years at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District hospital, which lies within the parish. The Millennium window is also worthy of mention since many of the congregation contributed to the painting and design. The Reredos of the Last Supper was also given by the parish for the Millennium.

At present the church is open from Easter until Harvest from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Saturday.