Wednesbury Shire

Wednesbury Shire is a part of Hwítmersc Theod. Hwítmersc Theod is a religous group dedicated to the revival of the ancient pagan religions of the Anglo-Saxons, specificly the Angles. Its aims are to bring back Anglo-Saxon Heathen religous practices in all forms both social and individual. This requires that we revive the worship of the ancient Anglo-Saxon pagan Gods and Goddesses, the rites through which we worship them, as well as the social institutions, customs, and traditions of the ancient Germanic tribes. To do so we attempt to forge and strengthen the bonds of community within our organization. The group is a part of a larger movement known as Theodish Belief, a form of Germanic Heathenry closely related to Asatru and Odinism.

Anglo-Saxon Heathenry is a modern religion based on the ancient pagan tribal religions of the Germanic tribes that moved into what is now England in the 5th century. These tribes are generally thought to be the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons, although portions of other tribes such as the Frisians may have migrated also. It is therefore closely related to the ancient Norse pagan religion and shares many of the deitites such as Odin (Woden) and Thor (Thunor).

Theodish Belief means "belief of the tribe," and comes from Old English Þéodisc Geléafa. Theodism maintains that worship of the Germanic Gods and Goddesses is best done in the form of a community. Therefore the community in the form of the theod or tribe is of utmost importance. Theodish Belief does not only reconstruct the religious beliefs of the ancient Germanic tribes, but also its cultural aspects as well. A theod is lead by a sacral leader who has certain duties they must perform to ensure the luck, health, and wealth of the tribe. The sacral leader is aided by an advisory council. Helping lead the tribe is the folkmoot, the free assembly of all adult members of the tribe.The folk come together to worship the Ése (Æsir) and Wen (Vanir) on a regular basis to strengthen the bonds between the folk and the Anglo-Saxon Heathen Gods and Goddesses. In doing so they also strengthen the bonds between each other.