The first regular Presbyterian congregation formed in Shrewsbury was by
the Reverends John Bryan, M.A. and the learned Francis Tallents, who were
ejected by the Act of Uniformity in 1662 from the livings of St. Chad’s
and St. Mary’s. After experiencing the various alternations of suffering
and indulgence during the unsettled reign of Charles the First, and
assembling for some time in private houses, they at length built a
meeting house in the High-street, in 1691. But while they separated
themselves from the established church on account of her discipline, they
did not renounce the leading doctrines of the gospel as preserved in that
church, which is evident from the inscription set up in their new
building:—
“This place was not built for a faction, or a party, but to promote
repentance and faith, in communion with all those who love our Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity.
“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
The year 1715 was particularly unfortunate for the Protestant Dissenters
in this and the adjoining counties: several of their places of worship
were destroyed by riotous mobs raised against the king and his
government. During the violence of these insurrections, the High-street
meeting house was demolished, in the night of July 6th, 1715, and the
pulpit publicly burnt. Government, however, speedily caused it to be
rebuilt; after which the royal arms were placed within the building.
The good and pious Job Orton preached here for several years. On his
resignation in 1766, a difference of sentiment arose among the members of
the congregation in the choice of a minister. The building is now used
for worship by the Unitarians. It is 70 feet by 30, and fitted up in the
heavy style of the last century.