Revd Steve Alston, a former Biologist with a doctorate in zoology, is building a new church and sharing God’s love with a forgotten Shropshire border town. The work, which is supported through prayer and traditional ministry methods, is seeing Steve build relationships during his daily walks through the town.
Craven Arms is in the heart of south Shropshire. A market town that serves as a crossing point between England and Wales, and a forgotten corner of south Shropshire. The place grew in the Industrial Revolution when the train line arrived. These days, it is often passed through by tourists on their way to walk the Shropshire hills. The town appears a little run-down, with a few old-fashioned shops, a large independent supermarket, and several takeaways. There doesn’t appear to be a lot going on during an average weekday, but behind the façade, an extraordinary ministry is quietly transforming lives one conversation at a time. Revd Steve Alston arrived in Craven Arms in November 2023 with three simple rules to guide his work: "Pray, pray, pray, ignore any targets and find out what Jesus wants you to do."
18 months later, the impact of following these principles is evident throughout the community – from the local foodbank to the fish and chip shop where one of Steve's "God loves Craven Arms" badges is proudly displayed next to the jar of pickled gherkins, and most powerfully in the transformed lives of individuals who have encountered God's love through Steve's patient ministry.
The stories flow during conversation with Steve, who illustrates his approach. He begins with the one about his neighbour, an elderly gentleman who had a previous difficult relationship with religion. Initially interested enough to try a Christianity Explored course, the neighbour suddenly stopped attending after a few months, telling Steve it was too difficult. Rather than writing him off, Steve remained in contact, "dropping by for the odd cuppa and chat," never stopping his prayers and hoping his neighbour would return.
"That patience has paid off," Steve explains. "He recently came back to church again. That's a powerful testimony."
This story of gentle persistence reflects Steve's core philosophy: "My one non-negotiable in all we are doing in Craven Arms is that it must point people to Jesus."
Steve's ministry extends far beyond the weekly Sunday services he hosts at home or the toddler group he’s been running, which moved from the back of the local café to the nearby community centre. When a local family moved to the area from Wolverhampton, seeking to escape a chaotic and offer their young children a brighter future, they arrived without a washing machine. They began coming to church each week – I think primarily to do their laundry. Rather than seeing this as mere utility, Steve recognised the opportunity to build a relationship.
"Building that relationship has seen their lives transformed. "They are part of the local church and deepening their relationship with Jesus. Steve notes. The father is now exploring volunteer ministry alongside Steve, hoping to help young people in the town avoid some of the pitfalls and temptations he faced as a teenager. The Mother is working and whilst things aren’t completely smooth sailing, the children know they are loved and cared for by two parents and a community.
Operating without a traditional Anglican church building, Steve has created what he calls "first century church" – holding services at "no.9," in his home which accommodates the regular congregation of about eleven, though numbers sometimes swell to twenty, creating "a bit of a squeeze to fit everyone in." The new Church’s name, Christ Church Craven Arms, underlines its Jesus focus.
"I made it quite clear from the outset that I didn't want to pinch anyone from any of the existing churches in Craven Arms," Steve explains, acknowledging the surprisingly diverse religious landscape of this seemingly forgotten place. "There are Muslims, a few Sikhs, a Kingdom Hall, and of course a number of other Christian denominations, including Methodists, Mennonites and the local free church. As local Christians, we all work together to share the love of Jesus in the town.”
Once a month, the congregation gathers for "Forest Church" at the local Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre on the edge of the town – an outdoor service focusing on God’s creation, followed by hot chocolate and marshmallows around a firepit. "People see it and join in. There are always a few extras that join us, sometimes local tourists and the odd walker, as the area attracts keen walkers."
Steve's pastoral approach combines warmth with clear boundaries; another story demonstrates these virtues. “Some of the local young people disrupted a Forest Church service by deliberately destroying a tree.” His response was swift but measured – requiring one of the group to explain their actions to the centre manager, modelling responsibility and how to say sorry for making a mistake – important life lessons for any young person.
"Since the incident, the tree has grown back and the young people reappeared again at a more recent Forst Church service," Steve recounts. This time, as they were finishing, one opened up, sharing his worries for his parents' marriage and what that would mean for his family. "It opened the door to another boy asking for prayer, too – powerful stuff."
Steve's journey to this rural ministry began in an unlikely place – the Natural History Museum, London, where he spent six happy years researching. "It seems odd to have a doctorate where I was researching ancient creatures. The research was wonderful, but I felt lonely – the job lacked people, so I went into science teaching."
After 16 years teaching in Inner London schools, it was during a retreat that he received an unmistakable call to ordination. "Following ordination, God’s guidance has been very obvious in each step of my journey," he says. "The call to come to Craven Arms was loud and clear – I heard God ‘shout’ that this was where I'm meant to be right now."
A few hours walking through Craven Arms with Steve reveals how deeply embedded he has become in community life. Volunteers at the local foodbank greet him warmly, discussing support for some of the clients. The local pub landlady stops him to ask for a prayer for a troubled resident. At the fish and chip shop, Trudy speaks glowingly of how Steve helped sort out her home situation and prayed for peace in her life.
"He's been amazing, and I don’t hear a bad word spoken about him - ever" Trudy attests. Steve is quick to point out it is Jesus at the heart of it all.
As a passionate storyteller, Steve recognises the power of sharing stories to build faith. His tales of the incredible generosity of Craven Arms residents, including last year's community Christmas dinner, are "exciting and full of energy."
"I might not have a building other than no.9, but I'm not limited," he explains. While he's "keen that everyone gets to know Jesus straight away," he recognises that "it all takes time, and building people’s faith is about taking the time to love the precious people of Craven Arms."
Despite moments of discouragement – "I might feel like I'm a bit blue on some days because I want complete revival in this place with 100 people coming to church" – Steve remains optimistic. "We're growing, and who knows if revival will happen, but it’s clear God is up to stuff here."
His approach of building rather than having a team, combined with his conviction that "God wants me to cherish the people of this place – they are precious to Him," continues to bear fruit in this Shropshire border town.
Revd Steve Alston's ministry in Craven Arms is supported by Hereford Diocese as part of our firm commitment to build and maintain rural ministry in parishes. He is the first minister appointed in the diocese for several years and it is hoped he will eventually work under a Bishop’s Mission Order.