St Mary's, Byton
St. Mary's, Byton, is one of the least known churches, but historically one of the most interesting, a reflection of local and national events. People have worshipped here for 1300 years, near the Iron Age settlement on Wapley Hill and overlooking the Lugg Valley into Wales. But the Border was always an unsettled area of murderous raiding. "Boctune" in 1066 was held of the King by the Norman Osbern fitz Richard. The Saxon Church was rebuilt by the Normans (windows and door arch are shown on a sketch dated 1850). Raids by Welsh Princes destroyed Byton's Churches in 1262 and 1402, but they were rebuilt, and the manor prospered in spite of the Black Death. The 15th Century Church survived until a fire in 1857. The subsequent Victorian replacement incorporated few traces of earlier churches though the font, and the tympanum on the south wall, date from the late 11th Century and the tombs in the nave from the 17th. The clock is a memorial to those killed in the Great War.

St Michael & All Angels, Lyonshall
Situated on a commanding rise overlooking the village to the south, the Church of St Michael & All Angels sits alongside the ruins of the moated Lyonshall Castle.

The first church sited here was probably established to serve the castle, and it has been substantially rebuilt and extended since its earliest days of the 11th Century. The current building dates mostly from the 13th Century, but its appearance today owes much to a substantial renovation carried out in 1872-3 by the Rev. Charles Edward Maddison-Green. His wife was a sister of Sir Henry Rider Haggard, and during his years at the church he accomplished much. After the renovation of the church, he had a school built (now a private house immediately to the South of the church) and finally had a new vicarage built some 400 yards further up the hill.

The imposing church tower houses a peal of six bells, which were recast by Abraham Rudhall of Gloucester in 1727 and rehung in 1924 in a metal frame. The tower itself has been constructed in at least three different stages, and it was probably originally a simple wooden-framed structure. The substantial oak frame is still visible inside the base of the tower.

St John the Evangelist, Shobdon
The first known church at Shobdon was a timber chapel, built in Anglo Saxon times. The second was a stone church built in the 12th century, the brainchild of Oliver de Merlemond, who employed the knight Bernard to build it for him. A tower was added in the 13th Century. The third and present church consisted of a completely new nave, which was built onto the 13th Century tower, by the Bateman family in 1756.

The Norman structure was noteworthy, mainly for its Romanesque decoration, which was an important example of the famous Herefordshire school of sculpture. Some remains of this can still be seen on the hill above the church, where they were re-erected as the folly "Shobdon Arches". The current church could hardly be more different. Its reticent exterior gives little clue as to what you will find within: a unique combination of Rococo and Gothic, often called 'Strawberry Hill Gothick', and reflecting the links between the Bateman family and Horace Walpole.

It is the striking blue and white interior with its wealth of ornamental arches, lavish pulpit based on the William Kent design for York Minster and extensive Gothic detailing that makes Shobdon unique among churches in Britain.

St Peter's, Staunton on Arrow
St. Peter's Church sits on a hill next to the Norman motte and bailey. The earliest records are of a vicar in 1273 but there was probably a chapel before that. 1853 saw the present-day structure which evolved through many rebuildings over the centuries. The church came under the patronage of Wigmore Abbey until the 'Dissolution' in 1538. Until then the village provided 35 acres of glebe (land) to support a live-in vicar.

Never a rich parish, two local, land-owning, families were its main benefactors - the Parrs and the King Kings. There are tablets in the church and graves of various members from both families. Visitors often come looking for their relatives' graves and a record of each one is in preparation showing its place in the grave yard area which surrounds the church and adjoins the old Norman castle.

Both church and yard welcome visitors with quiet simplicity. We who live here hope that you will enjoy something of our Marches corner which was once nomansland between the English and the Welsh!

During 2004/5 the church underwent extensive repair work. It is much loved by the local community and is in regular use as one of the churches in the Arrowvale Group of Parishes.