The walls of the nave are supported on each side by four semicircular
arches, with moulding peculiar to the pointed style, and these spring
from finely clustered pillars, their shafts having the small flat rib
which belongs to the 13th century. The capitals are highly enriched with
foliage, and, as is usual in ancient churches, are all of different
designs. Above the arches is a clere-story, with a high range of short
windows on both sides, running the whole length of the church. These are
irregularly ranged in couplets, and have heads very obtusely pointed,
each divided by a single mullion. The ceiling of the nave, which is of
oak, rises into an extremely flat arch, separated by its principal beams
into square pannels, including circles richly adorned with quatrefoils
and foliage. The ribs and bosses at their intersections, are carved,
with double roses, devices and knots; those attached to the centre beam
having pendant ornaments, pelicans, angels with musical instruments, and
grotesque sculptures. The chancel is considerably elevated by two
ascents of steps. On each side is a pointed arch, blocked up, resting
upon imposts similar to the clustered pillars in the nave. Several
— marble monuments are here displayed
Upon the walls: and on the floor beneath
Sepulchral stones appear, with emblems graven
And foot-worn epitaphs, and some with small
And shining effigies of brass inlaid,
belonging to the Lyster, Morhall, Lloyd, Gardner, and Sandford families.
On the north side, near the altar, is a beautiful triple window, with
arches remarkably sharp pointed, the centre rising much higher than those
of each side and supported upon slender insulated columns, whose capitals
are adorned with foliage, busts, and grotesque heads. The ceiling of oak
pannelling, was in this part quite plain. The interstices between the
beams have been plastered over and painted with trefoil and other
appropriate enrichments, and the intersections adorned with carved roses
and devices, collected from the ruins of St. Chad’s and St. Alkmond’s.
In the chancel, is an altar tomb, upon which is a recumbent figure of a
cross legged knight, in linked armour, the sides adorned with rich
foliated niches, once containing figures. This monument is supposed to
belong to John de Leyborne, of Berwick Leyborne, last of the family. In
the vestry, under a low pointed arch, is a plain altar tomb, which has
formerly been ornamented with shields; on the massy alabaster slab which
covers it, are engraven the figures of a man in armour, bareheaded, with
his wife, both in the act of prayer. From the inscription which is
somewhat defaced, we learn, that it was erected to — Stafford and
Catherine his wife, in 1463. In the transept and nave there are some
singular monumental figures, brought here from the ruins of St. Chad’s
and St. Alkmond’s, but to whom they belonged has not been ascertained.
The lower divisions of the great window which terminates the chancel, is
occupied by some ancient painted glass brought from old St. Chad’s,
representing the root of Jesse: the arch or head is made up with ancient
coats of arms and modern stained glass. The altar piece is a rich
Grecian design. The altar is a fine slab of Sienna marble bordered with
jasper, and was the gift of the Rev. Hugh Owen, vicar of St. Julian’s,
when curate here in 1789. In the gallery at the west end of the nave, is
a very handsome organ, made by John Harris and John Byfield, and as this
church, with the exception of St. Lawrence, at Ludlow, is the handsomest
in the county, so the organ with a like exception, is the most powerful
and best toned. In the tower is a musical peal of ten bells, the harmony
of which is not exceeded by that of any other peal in the town.
On the south-west side of the church-yard is a tomb-stone erected to the
memory of Thomas Anderson, a lieutenant in Ligonier’s regiment of light
horse, who was tried at Worcester for desertion, in the first German war
of George II. and removed here for execution. He was shot on Kingsland,
near this town, on the 11th of December, 1752, and met his fate with
calmness and fortitude. At the foot of the tower is a stone in memory of
Robert Cadman, who in January, 1740, in an attempt to descend from the
top of the spire by means of a rope affixed to it, the other end of which
was placed in the fields on the opposite side of the river, fell lifeless
in St. Mary’s Friars, through the breaking of the rope, amidst an immense
number of spectators. The inscription is quaint:—
Let this small monument record the name
Of Cadman, and to future times proclaim,
How from a bold attempt to fly from this high spire,
Across the Sabrine stream, he did acquire
His fatal end: ’Twas not for want of skill
Or courage to perform the task, he fell,
No, no, a faulty cord being drawn too tight,
Hurried his soul on high to take her flight,
Which bid the body here beneath, good night.
The right of presentation to this living is vested in the Corporation of
Shrewsbury at large; and in the choice of a minister, (who must at least
be a M.A.) the son of a burgess who has been brought up at the Free
Schools; or one born in the parish of Chirbury, is to have the
preference. The church is a royal peculiar, the Official having
cognizance of all ecclesiastical matters arising within the parish and
its subordinate chapelries. He is stiled “Ordinary and Official,
Principal of the peculiar and exempt jurisdiction of the Free Royal
Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” The present minister, who is also
official, is the Rev. John Brickdale Blakeway, M.A.—Organist, Mr. Thomas
Tomlins.
St. Julian’s Church,
Situated at the top of Wyle Cop, originally of Saxon election, is a plain
substantial structure of brick and stone, rebuilt in 1750, at an expense
of £2000. At the west end is the square tower of the old church; the
lower part being of red stone and in a more ancient style than the higher
story, which is of the 16th century. It is furnished with six bells. In
the east wall of the chancel is a small female figure within a foliated
tabernacle, preserved from the reins of the old church, and probably
representing St. Juliana, the patroness.
The form of this church is an oblong square, 83ft. by 48ft. the roof
being supported by four Doric columns on each side. The ceiling is
ornamented with the fret work of the old church. The altar-piece is
adorned with Ionic pilasters, supporting a rich cornice and architrave.
The east window is filled with fine painted glass, consisting chiefly of
a large ancient figure of St. James, bearing the Scriptures in his hand,
purchased in 1804, from the splendid collection of glass brought from
Rouen, in Normandy, during the French Revolution, and is extremely well
executed. Above the Apostle are escutcheons of the arms of France and
England, quarterly, and those of the corporation, and see of Lichfield.
The arms of the present and ancient patrons of the church, Earl
Tankerville, Sir John Astley, and Prince, together with those of the
families of Rocke, Powys, Bowdler, &c. &c. are exhibited in various
situations in the edifice, which is likewise beautified with a variety of
painted and stained glass. The only ancient monument in this church
which is worthy the attention of the antiquarian, is a slab of coarse
alabaster, lately removed from the church-yard into the chancel. It is
nearly a foot in thickness and as hard as flint; and besides a modern
epitaph which has been inserted in the centre of it, it contains round
the edge this inscription, in Longobardic capitals, now nearly
obliterated, but capable of being read, EASMONYND TROVMWYN GIST ICI DIEV
DE SA ALME EN EYT MERCI AMEN. i.e. Edmund Trowmwyn lieth here, may God
have mercy on his soul. Amen.
There is an organ in the gallery.
The Earl of Tankerville is the patron. The present incumbent is the Rev.
Hugh Owen, F.A.S. Archdeacon of Salop, portionary of Bampton,
Oxfordshire, and prebendary of Salisbury.