Part 11

ST. JULIAN’S CHURCH is situated upon elevated ground, at the top of the Wyle-cop, near to St. Alkmund’s church. Of its early foundation in Saxon times we possess no particulars. It was distinguished through several reigns as a rectory and a royal free chapel, with a peculiar jurisdiction. According to Tanner, at a very early period it was annexed to the free chapel of St. Michael, within the castle, and so continued until the reign of Henry IV., when they were both resigned into the king’s hands. Subsequently, the rectory was granted, among other things, to augment the new foundation of Battlefield College, and thenceforth the living became a mere stipendiary curacy. On the dissolution of that college, the living was granted by the crown to John Capper and Richard Trevor; and after many subsequent transfers, passed into the family of Prince, from whom it has descended to the present patron, the Earl of Tankerville.

The present church, built in 1749 on the site of a former edifice, which had become ruinous, is an oblong structure in the Grecian style, consisting of nave, chancel, and side aisles, with a tower at the west end. This tower is the only existing portion of the old church which remains, and is crowned with eight crochetted pinnacles. It has an excellent illuminated clock; and a peal of six bells, which were recast in 1706. The interior has a handsome appearance: four Doric pillars on each side the nave support the ceiling, which is carved and decorated with the fret-work of the old church. Over the side aisles and west end are commodious galleries, in the latter of which is a superior organ, erected by subscription in 1834. The east window contains a figure of St. James, in ancient stained glass, which was purchased from a splendid collection brought from Rouen in 1804. Several of the other windows are ornamented with armorial bearings. There is only one monument of any antiquity: a coarse marble slab, inscribed in Longobaric capitals to a member of the Trumwin family. Among the memorials of a modern date is one to the memory of Mr. John Allatt, the benevolent founder of Allatt’s Free School. The south aisle contains a neat memorial, of the Grinshill freestone, to commemorate the liberality of the late Rev. Richard Scott, B.D., who expended upwards of £1,500 in the reparations of this church, and other improvements connected with the fabric. It contains the following inscription, dated 1847, in reference to the improvements made by Mr. Scott: “Who, in Christian love, and a desire to honour God with his substance, has caused an effective architectural character to be given to the exterior of the south side of this sacred edifice, which, from the limited funds raised for its re-edification in 1750, necessarily induced brick as a material, and a design possessing little claim to taste; stone piers are now set at each end of the building and between the lower windows, which have been lengthened. Above, on a block cornice, are Roman Doric pilasters which sustain an entablature, crowned by an open balustrade and vase-shaped acroteria. Fretted console tables have been added to the upper windows, the architecture entirely renewed, and, like those below, re-glazed with metallic frame-work. A new portal and door at the eastern end of the south aisle, and the surface of this portion of the church and chancel, covered with stucco; the apex of the gable being finished with an appropriate ornament.”

In the north aisle is a similar memorial, inscribed to the same individual for his munificent beneficence “In erecting an ornamental stone wall and parapet round the church-yard, flagging the foot-path underneath and that on the eastern side, and likewise along the basement of the church, renewing the steps at the south-east thoroughfare, and lowering, repairing, and enclosing those which form the main approach from the street to the cemetery; also for a new pavement in the area leading to and from before the south door, rebuilding the steps of the portico with the addition thereto of a continuous pedestal, painting the north side of the church, and cleaning the stone work, roofing the chancel, and placing thereon a stone cornice and blocking course, with a foliated cone at each angle, as well as for other useful improvements connected with the fabric.” The living of St. Julian’s is a perpetual curacy, returned at £159, in the patronage of Earl Tankerville, and incumbency of the Rev. James Jardine Rogerson, M.A. The chapel of Ford was formerly an appendent of this church.

ST. GEORGE’S CHURCH, situated at Frankwell, is a neat cruciform structure, in the Gothic style, with a short tower at the west end, ornamented with four pinnacles. It is built of the beautiful Grinshill freestone, from a design by Mr. Haycock. The cost was nearly £4,000, raised by voluntary subscription. It was consecrated for divine service on January 30th, 1832. The interior has a chaste and elegant appearance, and will contain a congregation of 750 persons. Of the sittings, 460 are free and unappropriated. By the liberality of the late Rev. Richard Scott, B.D., the chancel has been beautified with an altar screen, the gallery with a small organ, and the triple lancet windows filled with splendid stained glass. The centre window contains a full-length figure of Isaiah, clothed in a brilliant vest of purple, over which is thrown a green robe lined with ermine, denoting his royal descent. The windows on each side have spirited figures of St. Matthew and St. Mark. The former exhibits deep and serious meditation, and holds a manuscript in his left hand; and the latter, a venerable figure, is pointing to an open gospel, which he holds in his left hand. The windows in the north and south transepts are also embellished with glass of a rich and elaborate mosaic pattern, which contributes to the imposing effect of the splendid east window. The living is a perpetual curacy, returned at £118, in the patronage of the vicar of St. Chad; incumbent, the Rev. John Harding, M.A.

ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH, situated in the populous suburb of Castle Foregate, is a neat brick structure, in the Grecian style of architecture, consisting of nave, side aisles, and elliptical recess for the communion, with an octagonal tower in three divisions, rising to the height of seventy feet, over the side aisles are galleries which are free; there is also a spacious gallery in the west end for the use of the school children, in which stands a small organ the gift of the Rev. W. G. Rowland, M.A. The pulpit and reading desk are octagonal, and placed on opposite sides of the church; the roof is panelled in large square compartments, and painted in imitation of oak. Three windows of stained glass which decorate the chancel are the exquisite productions of Mr. David Evans. The centre one is illustrative of the Nativity, from the celebrated “La Notte” of Correggio. The windows on each side represent the Annunciation, and the Presentation in the Temple; the former from a picture by Guido, and the latter from a celebrated painting by Rubens. These windows were the gift of the Rev. W. G. Rowland, M.A., to whose liberality the parishioners are also indebted for the service of communion plate, the peal of six bells, which hang in the tower, and the erection of the adjacent school rooms, for the education of the poor children of this populous portion of the parish of St. Mary’s. The church was erected at an expense of £2000, raised by subscription, and consecrated on the 24th August, 1830, as a chapel of ease to St. Mary’s church. The edifice contains 800 sittings, of which 600 are free and unappropriated.

THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY, situated on the Meole-road, was erected in 1837, for the accommodation of the inhabitants of the populous suburb of Coleham. It was built at a cost of nearly £1900, raised by subscription, aided by the grant of £600, from the Lichfield Diocesan Society, and a further grant of £150, from the Incorporated Church Building Society. The structure is a neat fabric of brick with a short tower; the body of the church has five windows on each side, and an elliptical recess for the communion, separated, internally, from the nave by a circular arch. The church contains 812 sittings, of which 504 are free. The window over the altar contains beautifully executed figures in stained glass, of the Evangelists, and St. Peter and St. Paul; several of the other windows are beautified with scriptural medallions, in stained glass, which together with a handsome service of communion plate, were presented by the late Rev. Richard Scott, B.D. This place of worship was formed into a district parish church in 1841. The living is a perpetual curacy enjoyed by the Rev. James Colley, M.A.

ANCIENT CHAPELS.—Several ancient chapels formerly stood in various parts of the town, the most considerable of which seems to have been the collegiate chapel of ST. MICHAEL, within the castle. No vestige of its site now remains, though it probably existed, at least in a ruinous state, in the reign of James II., for, it appears at that time, an order was made by the corporation, “that enquiry should he made after the stones taken away from the ruins of St. Michael’s chapel within the castle.” Part of the CHAPEL OF ST. NICHOLAS, on the left hand entrance to the council house, is still standing; it is of the early Norman era, and most probably was built by the first Norman, Earl of Shrewsbury, for the use of such of his retainers as resided in the outer works of the castle. The only portions of this edifice at present remaining are the nave, a massive arch formerly opening into the chancel, and two similar side arches. The building is now converted into a stable. ST. CATHERINE’S CHAPEL is stated to have occupied an elevated site upon Coton-hill. The CHAPEL OF ST. MARY MAGDALENE, a site near Trinity Church. ST. BLASE’S CHAPEL was situated in the Murivance. A tea garden near the site of the Belle-vue, was formerly called the Hermitage. These and other ecclesiastical edifices which once adorned this eminent town, have now disappeared; yet their faint traces still afford matter of interesting speculation for the antiquary.

DISSENTING CHAPELS.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL, situated in High-street, as the first dissenting place of worship established in the town, claims our first attention. To the act of uniformity, which, on St. Bartholomew’s day, 1662, drove from their livings upwards of two thousand clergymen of the church of England, Shrewsbury is indebted for its first dissenting church. It was formed by the Rev. John Bryan, M.A., and the Rev. Francis Tallants, M.A., ejected from the livings of St. Chad’s and St. Mary’s. Their meetings were first held in the house of Mrs. Hunt, and after experiencing various alternations of suffering and indulgence during the unsettled times that followed the act of uniformity, in 1683 their meetings were suppressed, and these eminent preachers of the gospel were forced into obscurity. On King James II. allowing liberty to Dissenters to meet for worship, they assembled as before in Mrs. Hunt’s house. In 1691, they built a chapel in High-street, and Mr. Tallants caused the following (with the latter sentence the Hugonists, of France, usually began their worship,) to be painted on the walls:—“_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 Protestant Dissenters; mobs and riots arose in various places, particularly in Lancashire, Shropshire, and Staffordshire—among the chapels pulled down in Shropshire were those of Wem, Whitchurch, and Shrewsbury. The chapel, in High-street, was soon after rebuilt by the government, and the liberties of Dissenters confirmed and fixed upon a solid foundation. In 1839 the venerable chapel was almost entirely taken down, owing to the building being considered unsafe, and because the commissioners under the street act required a part of the premises. It was rebuilt nearly on the old site, and re-opened for public worship in July, 1840. The interior has a simple and primitive appearance, the fittings are of old oak; there is accommodation for about 300 worshippers. The Rev. Richard Astley has been the respected pastor of the congregation since the year 1831. For a more extended and very pleasing account of this place of worship, we beg to refer our readers to the “History of the Presbyterian Meeting House of Shrewsbury,” published by the present minister in 1847.

THE INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, situated on Swan-hill, had, its origin in some unhappy disputes which arose in the congregation worshipping in High-street chapel, relative to the invitation of a minister being invited to settle among them. The chapel is a substantial brick edifice, with a neatly furnished interior, and contains six hundred sittings. On a stone tablet in the front is the following inscription:—“This building was erected in the year 1767, for the public worship of God, and in defence of the rights of majorities in Protestant Dissenting congregations, to choose their own ministers.” There is a cemetery adjoining the chapel. The Rev. Thomas Weaver has been the pastor of the congregation worshipping here for 52 years.

THE INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, Castle-gates, a handsome building of free stone, is the most imposing structure in connection with the nonconformists in the town of Shrewsbury. It was erected in 1845, at a cost (including the site) of £3000. The interior has a very chaste, and beautiful appearance; it will hold six hundred persons. The Rev. Edward Hill is the minister.

THE CATHOLIC CHAPEL is situated in Beeche’s-lane, near the southern portion of the town walls. It is a neat building erected in 1776, and enlarged in 1825; the front is stuccoed, and surmounted by a plain cross. The interior has a tasteful and elegant appearance; the altar rests on a sarcophagus, on the front of which is a painting of the last supper, above is a figure of Christ on the cross. On the gallery is a small organ, and on each side the entrance an elegant marble shell for the holy water. The chapel will hold about three hundred worshippers. The Rev. Eugene Egan is the priest. A plot of land, extending from Belmont to the southern walls, has been purchased, with the intention of erecting a new Catholic church, on a scale commensurate with the wants of an increasing congregation. The Catholics formerly met for worship in an upper room of an old house in St. Alkmund’s-square.

THE BAPTIST CHAPEL, situated in Claremont-street, a plain brick building, was opened for divine worship in 1780, and enlarged in 1810. A society of this persuasion is stated to have existed in this town, in the time of the Commonwealth. In the chapel is a small memorial, of Mr. Palmer, who was pastor of the congregation for twenty-seven years.

THE WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL is a commodious building, on St. John’s-hill, erected in 1804, and subsequently enlarged and decorated. It is neatly fitted up, and surrounded with galleries, in which is a small organ. It is calculated to hold 700. The Methodists have also small places of worship in the Castle Foregate and New-street, Frankwell.

THE WESLEYAN NEW CONNEXION CHAPEL, (EBENEZER,) situated at Tower-place, is a handsome building, having two entrances, with a Doric portico to each. The cost of the structure was £1500, and it was opened for divine worship, June 13th, 1834. The interior has a light and pleasing appearance; it is without galleries; in the centre of the chapel are two rows of pews, with a row on each of the sides, which ascend gradually from the floor; the blank walls display arches and pilasters, supporting a frieze and cornice.

THE FRIENDS’ MEETING HOUSE, a plain brick structure, in a retired situation, on St. John’s-hill, is fitted up with much simplicity and neatness. It was erected in 1746, and enlarged in 1807.

THE WELSH CALVINISTIC CHAPEL, a brick structure, erected on the site of a former edifice, is situated in Hill’s-lane. It is calculated to accommodate about 400, and was opened for divine worship in December, 1826. The Dissenters of this persuasion have also a small chapel, situated in the Wagon and Horses passage, Pride-hill. The service in both these chapels is in the Welsh language.

THE PRIMITIVE METHODISTS have a place of worship to accommodate about four hundred, situated in Castle-court. They have also a small chapel, at the Old Heath.

SCHOOLS.

THE ROYAL FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, situated near the Castle gates, is a noble institution for the education of youth, founded by King Edward VI., in 1552, and endowed with the greater portion of the revenues of the two dissolved colleges of St. Mary and St. Chad. Queen Elizabeth greatly augmented the endowment, in 1571, by adding the rectory of Chirbury, with additional tithes and estates in St. Mary’s parish. The structure is large and lofty, and occupies two sides of a quadrangle, with a square pinnacled tower at the angle, partly rebuilt in 1831. The original school was of timber, and the present tower, chapel, and library, were added in 1595. The wooden building was taken down in 1630, and its place supplied by the present stately edifice of Grinshill free stone. In the centre is a gateway, adorned on each side by a rude Corinthian column, supporting statues of a scholar and a graduate bareheaded, in the costume of the times. Over the arch is an inscription in Greek, importing that a love of literature is essential to the formation of a scholar. The whole structure exhibits an incongruous mode of building, and that mixture of styles, “where the Grecian and the pointed, however discordant and irreconcilable, are jumbled together, and compose a fantastic species, hardly assignable to any class or name.” The principal school room, which occupies the upper story, was originally divided by three partitions with folding doors, but these being removed, it forms a very spacious and noble apartment. The chapel, in which prayers are read by the head master every morning, occupies the ground floor, and is divided from the ante-chapel by a very handsome oak screen carved in the grotesque manner prevalent in the days of Elizabeth. The ceiling is adorned with fret work, preserved from the ruins of St. Alkmund’s church. Above the chapel is the library, which was rebuilt at considerable expense in 1815. It contains a valuable collection of manuscripts and books—one side being occupied by the library of the late Dr. Taylor. Two large pointed windows, with mullioned tracery, afford light to this apartment;—in the northern window are the arms of Edward VI., Queen Elizabeth, St. John’s College, Cambridge; the See of Lichfield and Coventry impaling Cornwallis, and those of the town;—in the south windows are the arms of the four principal benefactors, with appropriate inscriptions in Latin. Around the walls are portraits of Henry VIII., Edward VI., an Admiral in the costume of the time of Charles II., and several of the former head masters.

Among the curiosities in the library are three sepulchral stones, discovered in ploughing a field near Wroxeter. The largest has on its summit, a pine-cone between two lions, and beneath the pediment a rose. The first is taken from the _Picea_, called by Pliny, _Feralis Arbor_, expressive of its melancholy subject, and not unfrequent on memorials of this kind; the inscription denotes the death of _C. Mannivus Secundus_, of the town of Polentia, a _beneficiarius_, or veteran of the twentieth legion, who had served his time, and was called again into the service by the entreaties of the chief legate. The second stone has, on the upper part, a human face, two dolphins, and two serpents. The third is inscribed to M. Petronius, sigifer, or standard bearer, to the _Legio quatuor-decima gemina_, the fourteenth double legion, or a legion formed from two. As this legion never was in Britain, the learned Dr. Ward supposes that Petronius only came for his health and died here. There are also various other interesting antiquities, chiefly found at Wroxeter, and a small collection of fossils and natural curiosities. In front and at the back of the schools are play grounds, contiguous to which are houses for the master and the assistant-masters, with ample accommodation for boarders who come from all parts of the kingdom. The grammar school has long maintained a pre-eminent rank among the public seminaries of sound learning and religious education in this country, and has sent forth numerous individuals who have been distinguished for their eminent classical attainments. Under the care of its first master, Thomas Ashton, we learn there were two hundred and ninety scholars, among whom were the sons of many of the first families in England. Camden, when he wrote, says—“it was the best filled in all England, being indebted for their flourishinge state to provision made by the excellent and worthie Thomas Ashton”—who was a munificent contributor to the school himself, and was instrumental in procuring the grant of augmentation from Queen Elizabeth. Mr. Ashton resigned his office some years before his death, but he continued to cherish the seminary over which he had presided with paternal care. He drew up the code of laws by which it was governed for more than two centuries; and one of his last acts was to visit the school, when he preached a farewell sermon to the inhabitants of the town, after which that “Godlie father,” accompanied with the tears and blessings of the people, returned to Cambridge, near which he died at the end of a fortnight, 1578.