[Picture: St. Giles’ Church—Interior View]
Possesses much of its primitive character, being unencumbered with pews,
and until the last few years exhibited a still more rude appearance of
damp and neglect. Many important improvements, however, have been
effected within and around the building, especially in placing drains
around the exterior, which have not only rendered the interior free from
damp, but contributed also to the dryness of the cemetery. The
alterations in the nave consist in levelling and repairing the floor,
ceiling the roof, and appropriately colouring the walls and rafters;
removing the pulpit from the corner of the fine arch leading into the
chancel to the south-east corner of the nave, and placing stone tracery
of a bold design in the large pointed window of the south wall. The
windows of the north aisle are filled with fragments of stained glass
ingeniously disposed, so as to represent the outline of figures. {82}
In feet, whoever has visited this ancient church during its former
wretched state will be astonished; it now truly looks
“As though we own’d a God, adored his power,
Rever’d his wisdom, loved his mercy.”
And its sacred walls will, it is to be hoped, no more echo with the
twittering of birds,—the sparrow find a place of security over the altar,
or the swallow be permitted to “build her brooding nest” above its
antique pulpit; altho’ these are striking resemblances of the
tranquillity and peace which the means of grace are to a christian, and
which seem to inhabit the house of the Deity.
But the sentiment which this venerable place impressed was in some
measure checked by its disuse, divine service being only celebrated
within its walls twice a year.
Since the foregoing account was written, the author of these Memorials
has the pleasure to record that regular service was commenced in this
church on Sunday, June 19, 1836, which will form a great convenience to
the increasing population of the neighbourhood. Nine new oak pews have
been subsequently erected within its walls, from a design by Mr. Carline,
and at the expence of the Reverend Richard Scott, B. D. who has also
contributed a sum that will, with the letting of the pews, further
increase the stipend of a minister. Much has been very justly said
against the deformity which the introduction of pews has rendered to
churches; those, however, placed in this structure meet every objection,
and are perfect models of what pews should be,—fixed forms having backs,
but without doors;—adapted for a devotional rather than a lounging
posture. On the outside partition of each is a small carved finial, and
the whole are in unison with the style of the church and ancient benches
still remaining on the south side. A new altar-piece has been placed
above the communion-table: the latter was presented by an inhabitant of
the parish, and the former by Mr. Scott.
The dimensions of the church are—nave 45 feet by 36, chancel 20 feet by
15, total length 65 feet. The font is the upper portion of a Norman
pillar with the capital hollowed, and originally belonged to the Abbey
church.
It may be mentioned, that after the monks of Shrewsbury had obtained
possession of the bones of St. Wenefrede in 1137, those precious relics
were deposited on the altar of this church, until a shrine worthy their
reception could be prepared in the Abbey.
On the floor are several ancient stones bearing crosses, no doubt
denoting the interment of some of the masters of the old hospital of St.
Giles.
A spacious cemetery surrounds the building, where the contemplative mind,
“Free from noise and riot rude,”
may resort, and, unmolested by the vulgar gaze of unsympathizing
intruders, pour the grateful tribute of a sigh, or embalm afresh the
memory of that departed spirit with whom he once took generous and
undesigning counsel; and renew in imagination, through time’s dim mist,
hours consecrated to friendship.
In this silent repository are gravestones 200 years old, many inhabitants
of the town having selected it as their last resting place, from a
feeling similar to that inscribed upon a tomb in the south-west corner of
the church-yard:
Ut Nemini noceret Mortuus,
Qui Unicuique pro re nata succurrere voluit Vivus,
Hic extra Urbem sese contumulandum præcipiebat,
CHENEY HART, M.D.
Warringtoni in agro Lancastriensi natus Nov. 17–28, 1726.
A stone near the south window covers the remains of John Whitfield,
surgeon, on which is recorded an epitaph, the very quintessence of
chemical brevity—
I. W.
COMPOSITA SOLVANTUR.
Opposite the south door is the socket of an ancient stone cross, the
upper portion of which supports a font in the Abbey church.
From hence likewise is an extensive view of the town, with the different
churches displayed to much picturesque advantage, the vale below being
watered by the meanderings of the Rea brook; while the more distant
prospect, chequered with mountains and woody knolls, verdant pastures and
rural habitations, presents a striking picture of
“Life’s fair landscape, mark’d with light and shade.”