The partnership began in 1989, the year of the fall of the Iron curtain, when 61 members of the Kantorei Langwasser came to Ludlow for a week, staying with families in the Parish. We had outings, picnics, concerts and a Ceilidh together, which they enjoyed, and invited us to visit them the next year, which we did. The two churches are very different, St Laurence being built in the 12th century, and Paul Gerhardt in the 1960s, but worship and church membership are similar in both churches. Since then there have been exchange visits, big and small, nearly every year. We have learnt much about Nuremberg and Franconia, and about the history of our two churches, Anglican and Lutheran. Many of the visitors and hosts have become friends, and make private visits to each other, apart from the “official” exchanges.

Many of the visits have been music-based, and the Paul Gerhardt Brass Ensemble (Posaunenchor) have been frequent visitors and concert-givers. People from the Methodist, United Reformed and Roman Catholic churches have gone with us from Ludlow, making the visits really ecumenical. Those of us who have been involved hope that the partnership will continue for many years to come.

Averil Norton