St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury |
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The current building of St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, seen from The Quarry
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| Location | St Chad's Terrace, Shrewsbury, SY1 1JX |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic Celtic Christianity |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| Website | www.stchadschurchshrewsbury.com |
| History | |
| Founded | c560 |
| Founder(s) | ? Brochwel Ysgithrog;? King Offa |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 10 January 1953 |
| Architect(s) | George Steuart |
| Years built | 1792 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury is a very old church. People believe it was first started in Saxon times, possibly around 757 to 796 AD by King Offa. Some even think it might be older than that!
The church might have begun in buildings that were part of a royal palace. This palace was set up in the 500s AD in the Kingdom of Powys. At that time, Shrewsbury was known as Pengwern and was the capital of Powys.
For almost 1000 years, the church was on its original site at College Hill. It only moved to its current building and location in 1792.
The new church building has a unique round shape and a tall tower. It's a famous landmark in Shrewsbury, located near the Quarry park. The current building is a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical building.
The church's motto is "open doors, open hearts, and open minds." This means the church wants to be a welcoming place for everyone. It aims to be involved in the community and help people learn more about God.
The famous naturalist Charles Darwin was baptised at St Chad's Church in 1809. As a young boy, he attended the church with his mother, Susannah.
In 2010, St Chad's Church joined the Greater Churches Group. This group includes large, important parish churches in England.
Contents
Exploring St Chad's History
The Original St Chad's Church
The church you see today replaced an older church. This first church was also dedicated to St Chad and was located near College Hill.
It was already a well-known and wealthy place by 1086, when the Domesday Book was written. The old church covered most of Shrewsbury within its walls. It also owned several manors (large estates) in Shropshire.
Old Welsh stories suggest that the bishops of Lichfield might have taken over a Celtic church in Shrewsbury. One old Welsh poem from around 850 AD mentions Pengwern, which was Shrewsbury. It says that the palace of Brochwel Ysgithrog, a Prince of Powys, was on the site of the old St Chad's. Another Welsh story says that Brochwel's son, Tysilio, founded the church of Pengwern.
The old St Chad's was a "collegiate church." This means it had a group of clergy, including a dean and canons. It was founded in the 8th century by King Offa. Tradition says he turned the palace of the kings of Powys into the first church.
There is a crypt (an underground room) or baptistry partly visible at the old site. When it was dug up in 1889, reports said it was "undoubtedly Saxon." This means it was built a very long time ago.
The old church building was mostly destroyed in a "Great Fire of Shrewsbury" in 1394. The damage was so bad that King Richard II allowed the town to skip paying taxes for three years to help with repairs.
In 1407, a priest named William Thorpe spoke at St Chad's Church. He disagreed with some important beliefs of the Catholic Church. He was put in prison for this.
King Henry VII visited Shrewsbury in 1490. He celebrated a special feast day at the collegiate church of St. Chad. His queen and Prince Arthur were with him.
The college of St Chad was closed down by the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1500s.
In 1581, Sir Henry Sidney celebrated the feast of St. George at the old St Chad's. It was a very grand event. The church choir area was decorated to look like St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The old church had a monument to John Weaver. He is known as the father of English ballet and pantomime. The church also had ten bells. The churchyard was very old, with many burials over more than 1100 years. This made the ground level very high, reaching the church's window sills, which made the church damp.
The old building was mostly destroyed in 1788. Its central tower collapsed after people tried to make the crypt bigger. This weakened the tower above it. All that is left of the old church is a side chapel and the disused churchyard, which still has the exposed crypt.
Some notable people buried at the old church include:
- Rowland Lee (died 1543), a bishop.
- Richard Onslow (died 1571), a lawyer and politician.
- John Weaver (died 1760), the dancing master.
The Current Church Building
After the old church collapsed, a Scottish architect named George Steuart was hired to design a new one. He suggested four designs, and three of them were round. Round or oval churches were popular for a short time in the late 1700s.
Steuart really wanted to build a round church. However, the local committee wanted a rectangular one. But Steuart sent them a sketch of a round church, and they didn't notice or say anything. So, he went ahead with the round design. When the committee finally objected, he said they had approved it by staying silent. They decided to just go with the round design to avoid more delays.
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The first stone for the new church was laid on March 2, 1790. The church was built using white Grinshill stone. The building work was overseen by John Simpson. He later worked with Thomas Telford on projects like the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Inside, the gallery is held up by thin cast iron pillars. This was an early example of using cast iron in this way.
The church officially opened on August 19, 1792. Charles Darwin was baptized there on November 15, 1809.
The window in the sanctuary (the area around the altar) is a copy of a famous painting by Rubens. It was made in the 1840s by a local stained glass artist named David Evans.
The entrance hall has many memorials for the 53rd Regiment of Foot and its later name, the King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI). These memorials remember soldiers who died in different wars and battles, including the Indian Mutiny and the First World War. There are also books of remembrance for all war dead from Shropshire.
In 1951, a chapel was created for the KSLI regiment. Regimental flags were placed there in 1952 and 1966. After the First World War, the main sanctuary of the church was also updated as a memorial to the local people who died in the war.
Churchyard and Notable Burials
In the churchyard, which is no longer used for burials, you can still see a headstone that was used in the 1984 film A Christmas Carol. It's the "grave" of Ebenezer Scrooge. The local Town Crier says it's an actual old headstone where the original writing had faded. The filmmakers asked to use it and added "Ebenezer Scrooge" to it. In 2024, the stone was damaged, but local stonemasons fixed it for free.
Some real people buried in the churchyard include Shrewsbury architect Edward Haycock, Sr. and ironmaster William Hazledine.
Music at St Chad's
Music is a very important part of St Chad's Church. The church has a robed choir that leads the singing during services. The church also has a large pipe organ. It was built in 1904 and has been restored several times. The church often hosts lunchtime organ concerts and other musical events.
Notable Clergy
- Sir Lovelace Stamer, 3rd Baronet, Vicar from 1892–96.
- Charles Bulmer Maude, Vicar from 1896–1906.
- William Alonzo Parker, Vicar from 1942–45.
- William Johnston, Vicar.
- Robert Willis, Curate from 1972–75.
See also
- Grade I listed churches in Shropshire
- Listed buildings in Shrewsbury (northwest central area)
