WHEN did the Church of England last start a new church in the Five Valleys?

That’s the question that local church leaders would love to have answered.

They are asking this question as they set about establishing a new church, called CrossRoads, which will be meeting in the Primary School at Leonard Stanley.

It is the inspiration of Rev Steve Harrison who has moved here from South Africa to lead the Anglican churches between Stonehouse and the River Severn.

Having moved here last summer he feels that the time is now right to set about establishing a new kind of church which will appeal to people who are looking for something more relaxed than the more traditional parish churches in his care.

CrossRoads will start on March 25, at 4pm.

At first it will only meet once a month on the fourth Sunday of every month - so the second meeting won’t be until April 22.

Refreshments will be served from 3.45pm to welcome people as they arrive, and the whole event is not intended to last more than 50 minutes.

The name CrossRoads has been chosen because it makes us think about the decisions that we make each day and each week - but life is so busy we hardly ever have time to stop and think about what we are doing.

CrossRoads is an opportunity to stop for 50 minutes and listen to God.

Steve brings with him a wealth of experience from running churches in South Africa, and he will be accompanied by his wife, Olivia in leading the music.

They will be supported in this new venture by John and Catherine Thompson who are already well known in the area having run the Post Office in Ebley for many years before John became the head of Chaplaincy for Gloucestershire Hospitals.

Leonard Stanley Primary School has good facilities and plenty of car parking.

If you want to know more details contact John or Steve: john@cloudend.co.uk / speedyharrison@gmail.com

And if you know when the Church of England last started a church around here, they’d love to know.