is situate at a short distance from St. Mary’s, and its cemetery adjoins
that of St. Julian’s.
The fine old cruciform church of this parish was inconsiderately
destroyed in 1794, under a mistaken apprehension of its stability. The
present building, with the exception of the tower and spire, which
fortunately escaped the fate of the old church, was opened for divine
service Nov. 8, 1795, at a cost of rather more than £3000.
The new structure is of Grinshill stone, and in the style called modern
gothic, having six lofty pointed windows on each side, filled with
slender mullions of cast-iron; between the windows are graduated
buttresses.
The interior is handsomely fitted up, and the general effect pleasing,
although not in strict conformity with a gothic building,—wanting that
sombre grandeur characteristic of this style of architecture. It is 82
feet long by 44 feet wide, with a small chancel terminated by a pointed
window filled with enamelled glass emblematical of “EVANGELICAL FAITH,”
depicted in the character of a female figure in the attitude of kneeling
upon a cross, with her arms extended, and eyes elevated towards a
celestial crown which appears in the opening clouds. The countenance has
an interesting expression of adoration, and the motto, “Be thou faithful
unto death,” &c. is inscribed on an open volume. The window was painted
by the elder Egginton, and cost 200 guineas.
At the west end is a capacious gallery, containing a small fine-toned
organ by Gray, of London, erected by a subscription in 1823.
The principal entrance to the church is in the base of the tower, under
an elegant pointed arch recessed within a square aperture, on either side
of which are niches, most barbarously repaired in 1825; above is a bold
mullioned window in the style of the sixteenth century, when the tower
and spire were probably built. In this window are two ancient
escutcheons in stained glass, displaying England and France quarterly,
and the arms of Richard Sampson, Bishop of Lichfield, and Lord President
of the Marches from 1543 to 1548.
The tower is finely proportioned, being flanked with double buttresses
gradually diminishing, and terminated with a crocketed pinnacle; an open
parapet of pointed arches surrounds the base of the spire, which, though
not remarkable for height, is considered by persons of good taste “to
possess singular elegance of form.” The tower contains eight musical
bells, recast in 1813, and is 70 feet high, the spire 114, making a total
of 184 feet from the ground.
In a vault beneath this church are interred the remains of Thomas Jones,
Esq. who died in 1642. He was six times bailiff, and the FIRST MAYOR OF
SHREWSBURY; also those of Sir Thomas Jones, Lord Chief Justice of the
Court of Common Pleas, who died 1692, to whom and other members of this
ancient Shropshire family are several memorials. Other monumental
tablets also relieve the walls of the building.
The old structure contained many curious brasses and monuments; the
former were sold, and the latter dispersed, on its unnecessary
demolition.
The living is a vicarage in the gift of the Crown, and a weekly lecture
is preached in the church on Wednesdays.