Grade I listed churches in Shropshire facts for kids
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands of England. It's known for its farms and beautiful countryside. The county is divided into two main areas: Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. Together, these make up the ceremonial county of Shropshire. For a long time, Shrewsbury was the biggest town, until Telford was built in the 1960s. Shropshire is the largest county in England that isn't on the coast.
Many churches in Shropshire are built from local stone, mostly sandstone. Some parts of the county also have limestone. The sandstone from Grinshill quarries is especially good for building.
Churches have been in Shropshire since the Anglo-Saxon times, which was a very long time ago! Not many churches still have their original Saxon parts. St Giles' Church in Barrow is one of the best examples. You can find more churches with Norman features, like St John the Baptist in Hope Bagot or St Laurence in Church Stretton. Most churches on this list are in the Gothic style, built between the 13th and 17th centuries. There are also a few newer churches, like St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury, which is Neoclassical, and the unique St Michael's in Llanyblodwel.
This list shows all the churches and chapels in Shropshire that are "Grade I listed." This means they are super important buildings, sometimes even famous around the world! Only a small number of listed buildings get this special Grade I status. These buildings are chosen by experts and approved by the government.
Amazing Churches of Shropshire
| Church Name | Where to Find It | Picture | Cool Facts About the Church |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary | Acton Burnell 52°36′47″N 2°41′25″W / 52.6131°N 2.6903°W |
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St Mary's is near the old Acton Burnell Castle. It was built between 1250 and 1280. A small tower was added later. The church is shaped like a cross, and its inside decorations are very fancy. |
| St Peter | Adderley 52°57′08″N 2°30′21″W / 52.9522°N 2.5059°W |
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The north part of the church was built in 1635–36 as a burial place. The tower is from 1712. Most of the church was built in 1891. The front part was fixed up in 1822. Today, the main part and tower are still used for services, while other parts are looked after by a special trust. |
| St Eata | Atcham 52°40′43″N 2°40′49″W / 52.6785°N 2.6804°W |
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This church is named after a unique saint, Saint Eata. It was already here by 1075. It's made of red sandstone and even has some old stones from the Roman city of Wroxeter! The tower is from around 1300, with the top added later. The porch was built in 1684. |
| St Giles | Barrow 52°35′47″N 2°30′23″W / 52.5965°N 2.5065°W |
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St Giles' is one of the oldest and most complete churches in the county. It has the only Saxon chancel (the area around the altar) in Shropshire. It might be from the 8th century, but more likely the 11th. It also has Norman parts. The top of the tower was added in the 18th century. |
| All Saints | Berrington 52°39′27″N 2°41′44″W / 52.6574°N 2.6956°W |
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All Saints started in the 13th century, with changes made over the next two centuries. It got a big makeover in 1877. It's built from sandstone with tiled roofs. The font (for baptisms) is Norman and sits on the base of an old Roman column! |
| St Mary the Virgin | Bromfield 52°23′12″N 2°45′45″W / 52.3868°N 2.7625°W |
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This church used to be part of a monastery built in 1155. The current church still has parts of the old monastery church. In 1658, the central area was turned into the chancel. It was restored in 1889–90, with new windows. Look for the painted ceiling in the chancel from 1672! |
| St Mary | Burford 52°18′32″N 2°36′45″W / 52.3088°N 2.6126°W |
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The chancel is from the 12th century and has some Norman parts. The main hall (nave) and tower are from the 14th century. A new room (vestry) was added around 1860. The church had a big restoration in 1889–90, including rebuilding the tower. It has important family monuments inside. |
| St James | Cardington 52°33′07″N 2°43′46″W / 52.5519°N 2.7295°W |
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The nave is from the 12th century and is in the Norman style. It was made longer later that century. The chancel and tower are from the 13th century. The wooden porch was built in 1639. The church was restored between 1863 and 1869, and the Norman chancel arch was replaced. |
| St Peter | Chelmarsh 52°29′16″N 2°24′47″W / 52.4878°N 2.4130°W |
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The main part of the church and the lower two levels of the tower are from the 14th century. A special chapel was blessed in 1345. The tower was finished in the 18th century, and the south porch was added in 1887. An old Norman doorway is now in the north wall. |
| St Michael | Chirbury 52°34′46″N 3°05′29″W / 52.5794°N 3.0915°W |
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This church dates back to the 12th century or even earlier. In the 13th century, it became a priory church. The nave, side aisles, and west tower are still here from that time. A short chancel was added in 1733. The church was restored in 1871–72. |
| St Laurence | Church Stretton 52°32′18″N 2°48′32″W / 52.5382°N 2.8088°W |
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This church is shaped like a cross. The nave is Norman, from the 12th century. The rest of the church is Early English Gothic, from the 13th century, except for the top of the tower, which is from the 15th century. It had several restorations, including in 1867–68. |
| All Saints | Claverley 52°32′18″N 2°18′26″W / 52.5383°N 2.3072°W |
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All Saints was founded by Roger de Montgomerie, a powerful earl. It still has Norman arches and windows. The tower was made taller in the late 15th century. The church also has Decorated and Perpendicular Gothic styles. The font is Norman, and there are old monuments from the 1400s and 1500s. |
| St Mary | Cleobury Mortimer 52°22′45″N 2°28′49″W / 52.3792°N 2.4803°W |
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The base of the tower is from the 12th century, and the main part of the church is from the 13th century. Side aisles and a chapel were added later in the 13th century. The tower has a twisted wooden spire, possibly from the 14th century! The church was repaired by famous engineer Thomas Telford in 1793. |
| St Swithun | Clunbury 52°25′13″N 2°55′35″W / 52.4202°N 2.9265°W |
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This church started as a smaller chapel and became a parish church in 1341. It was built in the 12th century and still has some Norman features. Changes were made in the 14th, 15th, and 19th centuries. A wooden porch was added in 1881. |
| St Peter | Cound 52°38′27″N 2°39′15″W / 52.6409°N 2.6543°W |
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The oldest part of the church is the nave, from the 13th century. The south aisle was rebuilt in the 14th century, and the west tower was built in the 15th century. The north aisle was added in 1842, and the chancel in 1862. The church is built with different coloured sandstones. |
| St Edith | Eaton-under-Heywood 52°30′21″N 2°44′18″W / 52.5057°N 2.7383°W |
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The nave is Norman, from the 12th century. The chancel and tower are from the 13th century. More changes were made in the 14th and 15th centuries. The church was restored in 1869. It's built from stone with tiled roofs. |
| St Peter | Edgmond 52°46′14″N 2°24′58″W / 52.7705°N 2.4161°W |
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A church was here by 1122 and was made bigger in the 13th century. The current church is mostly from the 14th and 15th centuries. It had a big restoration in 1877–78. From the southeast, it looks like a Perpendicular Gothic church. |
| St Mary | Edstaston 52°53′00″N 2°43′05″W / 52.8832°N 2.7181°W |
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St Mary's was built in the 12th century as a smaller chapel. It became its own parish in 1850. The east end was changed in the early 14th century. The church is mostly Norman in style, keeping many original features like doorways and windows. |
| St Mary | Ellesmere 52°54′27″N 2°53′22″W / 52.9075°N 2.8895°W |
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St Mary's originally had a Norman nave and Early English transepts. The tower is from 1439–1449. The nave was rebuilt in 1848–49 in Perpendicular style. The chancel chapel was restored in 1883, and the east wall of the chancel was rebuilt in 1889. |
| St Andrew | Great Ness 52°45′56″N 2°53′39″W / 52.7655°N 2.8943°W |
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This church started as an Anglo-Saxon church. The nave and lower tower are from the 13th century, and the chancel is from the early 14th century. The top of the tower was rebuilt in the 17th century. It's made of sandstone. |
| Heath Chapel | Heath 52°28′00″N 2°39′11″W / 52.4667°N 2.6531°W |
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This is a small Norman chapel that hasn't changed much since it was built in the 12th century. It has a nave and a chancel, but no bell tower. Inside, you'll find a Norman font, old furniture from the 1600s, and even traces of old wall paintings! It's no longer used for services and is looked after by English Heritage. |
| St Michael | High Ercall 52°45′08″N 2°36′08″W / 52.7522°N 2.6021°W |
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The nave and its side aisles are from the late 12th century. The chancel and a north chapel were added in the 14th century. The west tower is in the Perpendicular style. The church was damaged during the English Civil War and repaired between 1657 and 1662. It was restored in 1864. |
| St Luke | Hodnet 52°51′13″N 2°34′37″W / 52.8535°N 2.5770°W |
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St Luke's dates from the 12th century. A very wide side aisle was added in the early 14th century, along with a chapel and the tower. The tower is unique in England because it's octagonal (eight-sided) all the way up! |
| Holy Trinity | Holdgate 52°30′09″N 2°38′50″W / 52.5025°N 2.6472°W |
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The nave, from the 12th century, is in the Norman style and has a beautifully decorated south doorway. The chancel and the lower part of the tower are from the 13th century, with the top of the tower added in the 15th century. It was restored in 1894–95. |
| St John the Baptist | Hope Bagot 52°21′47″N 2°36′19″W / 52.3630°N 2.6053°W |
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This church is from the 12th century and still has many Norman features, like the whole north side, the south doorway, and the chancel arch. Changes were made in the 13th, 14th, and 17th centuries. It has a low west tower with a pyramid-shaped roof. |
| St Mary | Hopesay 52°26′39″N 2°54′00″W / 52.4441°N 2.8999°W |
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St Mary's dates from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. It was restored around 1880. It has a wide west tower with narrow windows and a pyramid-shaped roof. It's built from limestone with tiled roofs. |
| St John the Baptist | Hughley 52°34′39″N 2°38′37″W / 52.5775°N 2.6436°W |
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This small church has a nave and chancel built in the 13th century. It started as a smaller chapel and became a parish church in the late 14th century. A wooden bell tower was added in 1700. It was restored in 1871–72. Inside, there's a 15th-century chancel screen, considered the best in the county! |
| St John the Baptist | Kinlet 52°25′35″N 2°25′37″W / 52.4265°N 2.4269°W |
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The main part of the church is from the 12th century, with the north aisle added later that century. The tower and south aisle are from the 13th century. The chancel was rebuilt around 1320. The church was restored in 1893–94. It has beautiful monuments from the 15th to early 19th centuries. |
| Langley Chapel | Langley 52°35′48″N 2°40′59″W / 52.5967°N 2.6830°W |
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This chapel was built around 1564 on the site of an older one. It got a new roof in 1601 and was restored in 1900. It's a simple building with a nave and chancel, and a small bell tower. The inside still looks much like it did in the 17th century. It's no longer active and is cared for by English Heritage. |
| St Michael and All Angels | Lilleshall 52°44′04″N 2°24′12″W / 52.7345°N 2.4032°W |
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The nave, with its two south doorways, is Late Norman in style. The north aisle and chapel were added in the 14th century in Decorated style. The west tower is in Perpendicular style. The church was restored in 1856. |
| St Leonard | Linley 52°35′00″N 2°27′50″W / 52.5834°N 2.4639°W |
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This church started as a smaller chapel to Holy Trinity, Much Wenlock. It was built in the 12th century, with the tower added later that century. It's almost all in the Norman style. It was restored in 1858 and is built from local sandstone. |
| St Michael | Llanyblodwel 52°47′54″N 3°07′46″W / 52.7982°N 3.1295°W |
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This church was mostly rebuilt in a very unique way by its vicar, Revd John Parker, between 1846 and 1856. It includes old medieval parts. The west steeple (tower and spire) is almost separate from the rest of the church. Inside, you'll find lots of painted texts and patterns! |
| St Mary | Longnor 52°35′59″N 2°45′26″W / 52.5998°N 2.7572°W |
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This church was originally a private chapel and later became a parish church. It was built around 1260–80. It has survived as a mostly unchanged 13th-century chapel, with almost all its 18th-century furniture still inside. |
| St Michael | Loppington 52°51′30″N 2°47′10″W / 52.8584°N 2.7862°W |
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St Michael's is from the 14th and late 15th centuries. It was partly rebuilt in the mid-1600s and again in the early 1700s. During the English Civil War in 1643, Royalist soldiers damaged it badly, even burning the roof! |
| St Laurence | Ludlow 52°22′06″N 2°43′07″W / 52.3682°N 2.7186°W |
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This is the biggest parish church in Shropshire! Most of it is from the 15th century, but some parts are from the 13th and 14th centuries. The church was restored in 1859–60, and the tower in 1889–91. It's mainly in the Perpendicular Gothic style. |
| St Michael and All Angels | Lydbury North 52°28′06″N 2°57′18″W / 52.4684°N 2.9551°W |
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Dating from the 12th century, this church had changes made in the 14th, 15th, and 17th centuries. The main part was restored in 1901–02. It's shaped like a cross, with a west tower and a two-story south transept. |
| St Bartholomew | Moreton Corbet 52°48′18″N 2°39′09″W / 52.8050°N 2.6524°W |
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This church stands near the ruins of Moreton Corbet Castle. The nave and chancel are from the 12th century. A large south aisle was added around 1330–40. The west tower was being built in 1539. The church was restored in 1883. Look for the large west window shaped like a spherical triangle! |
| St Gregory | Morville 52°32′31″N 2°29′19″W / 52.5419°N 2.4886°W |
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This was a collegiate church (a church for a group of clergy) dating from 1118. It has many Norman architectural features. Later, side aisles were added, and the chancel was made longer. In 1856, the clerestory (upper part of the nave with windows) was added. |
| Holy Trinity | Much Wenlock 52°35′47″N 2°33′26″W / 52.5965°N 2.5571°W |
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The chancel and nave are Norman, and the west tower is Transitional (a mix of Norman and Gothic). The south aisle and chapel were added in the late 12th century. More additions were made in the 13th century. It had further changes in the 1800s. |
| St Michael | Munslow 52°29′07″N 2°42′24″W / 52.4853°N 2.7067°W |
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The oldest parts of this church, from the 12th century, are in the nave. The tower was added later that century. The chancel is from the 13th century. It was restored in 1868–70, and the internal walls were stripped of plaster. |
| St Michael | Pitchford 52°38′03″N 2°41′58″W / 52.6343°N 2.6995°W |
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This church is from the 12th century and was changed in the 13th century. The east wall of the chancel was rebuilt in 1719. A vestry was added in 1819, and the whole church was restored in 1910. It has a simple design with a nave and chancel, and a wooden bell tower on the west end. It contains memorials from 1285 to 1589. |
| All Saints | Richard's Castle 52°19′54″N 2°44′37″W / 52.3317°N 2.7436°W |
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All Saints was built in 1890–92 by famous architect Richard Norman Shaw. It's made of Grinshill sandstone. Its style is mainly Decorated Gothic, with some Perpendicular features. Most of the furniture and fittings inside were also designed by Shaw. |
| St Martin | St Martin's 52°55′12″N 3°00′32″W / 52.9199°N 3.0090°W |
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The church started in the 13th century, and the north aisle was added in the late 14th or early 15th century. The tower followed around 1632. It was restored in 1841. The east wall of the chancel was rebuilt in 1862. It's built from sandstone with slate roofs. |
| St Mary | Selattyn 52°53′55″N 3°05′31″W / 52.8987°N 3.0920°W |
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The nave and chancel are from the 13th century. The tower is from 1703 to 1704. The north transept was added in 1821, and the south transept in 1828. The church was restored in 1892, when a north aisle and a wooden south porch were added. |
| St Mary the Virgin | Shawbury 52°47′11″N 2°39′18″W / 52.7864°N 2.6550°W |
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The nave and south aisle are from the late 12th century and are Norman in style. The chancel is from the 13th century. The north aisle, north chapel, and tower are from the 15th century. The north porch is from the 17th or 18th century. The church was restored in 1603 and again in 1875. |
| St Andrew | Shifnal 52°39′52″N 2°22′33″W / 52.6645°N 2.3757°W |
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St Andrew's is shaped like a cross with a tower in the middle. It started as a collegiate church in the 12th century and still has some Norman features. It was damaged by a fire in the town in 1591 and needed repairs. It was restored in 1876–79. |
| Holy Cross | Shrewsbury 52°42′27″N 2°44′38″W / 52.7076°N 2.7438°W |
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This church is mainly the nave (main hall) of the old Shrewsbury Abbey. After the monasteries were closed down, the other parts were pulled down, and the nave became a parish church. It was restored in 1861–63 and again in 1886–67. It's made of red sandstone and has some Norman features, but is mostly Gothic. |
| St Chad | Shrewsbury 52°42′27″N 2°45′32″W / 52.7074°N 2.7590°W |
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St Chad's is a Neoclassical church built in 1790–92. Its main features are its round nave and its tower. A large porch leads through the tower's base into the nave, which is 100 feet (30 meters) wide! The tower has different shaped sections, including an octagonal (eight-sided) part. |
| St Mary | Shrewsbury 52°42′31″N 2°45′05″W / 52.7087°N 2.7513°W |
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This church started as a collegiate church in the 10th century. Building of the current church began in the 12th century. The tower was added, and then the side aisles in the 1170s. The church was restored around 1792 and again between 1858 and 1870. Part of the spire fell in 1894! This church is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. |
| St Peter | Stanton Lacy 52°24′18″N 2°44′35″W / 52.4051°N 2.7431°W |
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St Peter's is shaped like a cross and dates from the 11th century. It still has Anglo-Saxon and Norman features. The chancel is from the 13th century. The south transept, south aisle, and central tower were added in the early 14th century. It was restored in 1847–49. |
| St Andrew | Stanton upon Hine Heath 52°48′36″N 2°38′32″W / 52.8099°N 2.6421°W |
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The chancel and nave are early Norman, from the 12th century. The tower is from the 13th century. The south aisle is from the late 13th or 14th century, and the north porch is dated 1595. The church was restored in 1891–92. It's built from sandstone with tiled roofs. |
| St James | Stirchley 52°39′26″N 2°26′43″W / 52.6573°N 2.4452°W |
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The chancel and its arch are Norman, from the 12th century. Around 1740, the nave and tower were covered in brick, and the tower was made taller. A north aisle was added in 1838. This church is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. |
| St John the Baptist | Stokesay 52°25′51″N 2°49′52″W / 52.4307°N 2.8312°W |
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This church is next to Stokesay Castle. It started in the 12th century but was badly damaged during the English Civil War. It was mostly rebuilt after that, with the nave in 1654 and the chancel in 1664. It has a re-assembled Norman doorway and almost all its original furniture from the 1660s. It's a rare example of a church from that time! |
| St Mary | Stottesdon 52°26′35″N 2°29′00″W / 52.4430°N 2.4833°W |
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This church is mentioned in the Domesday Book (a very old survey from 1086!). There's evidence of Saxon architecture in the west wall of the nave. The nave and its aisles are late Norman, from around 1180. The chancel and most of the rest of the church are from around 1330. The font is from around 1160. |
| St Bartholomew | Tong 52°39′50″N 2°18′13″W / 52.6638°N 2.3036°W |
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The church started around 1260 and was largely rebuilt around 1410. A special chapel, called the "Golden Chapel," was added in 1515–19. It was restored between 1889 and 1892. It's made of local sandstone and is in the Perpendicular style. It has a central tower that starts square and then becomes octagonal. Inside, there are many statues and monuments from the 1400s to the 1700s. |
| St Alkmund | Whitchurch 52°58′15″N 2°41′06″W / 52.9708°N 2.6849°W |
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The old medieval church here was destroyed when its tower fell down. The current church was built in 1712–13. It had restorations in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Inside, you can find the remains of John Talbot, a famous earl who died in a battle in 1453. |
| Halston Hall Chapel | Whittington 52°52′30″N 2°59′02″W / 52.8751°N 2.9838°W |
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This is a private chapel for Halston Hall. It's a timber-framed building (made with a wooden frame) that dates back to 1437–38! It has a brick west tower from around 1725. The inside furniture is almost unchanged since the early 1700s, including old box pews and a special reading desk. |
| All Saints | Worthen 52°38′09″N 2°59′38″W / 52.6358°N 2.9939°W |
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All Saints dates from the late 12th and early 13th centuries. The brick chancel was added in 1761. It was restored in 1846–47 and again in 1924. It has a nave with a south porch and a tower on the north side. Inside, there's a monument to Dr. David Price, who was a chaplain to King Charles I. |
| St Peter | Wrockwardine 52°42′17″N 2°33′25″W / 52.7048°N 2.5570°W |
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This church is mainly from the late 12th and early 13th centuries and still has some Norman features. It's shaped like a cross with a tower in the middle. It had restorations in the 1850s and 1880s. |
| St Andrew | Wroxeter 52°40′12″N 2°38′50″W / 52.6701°N 2.6472°W |
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This church has Anglo-Saxon materials and even uses stones from the nearby Roman town! Changes were made in the early 16th century, and the south wall of the nave was rebuilt in 1773. It was restored in 1863. Part of an Anglo-Saxon cross is built into the south wall. Inside, you can see traces of old wall paintings. This church is now looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. |
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Shropshire
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Grade I listed churches in Shropshire Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.