St Michael and All Angels' Church, Welshampton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Michael and All Angels, Welshampton |
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| 52°54′36″N 2°50′32″W / 52.9099°N 2.8423°W | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 434 350 |
| Location | Welshampton |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Michael and All Angels |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 27 May 1953 |
| Architect(s) | George Gilbert Scott |
| Style | Early English style |
| Completed | 1863 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Ellesmere Deanery |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
The Church of St Michael and All Angels is a beautiful old church. You can find it in the village of Welshampton in Shropshire, England. It's an Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. This building is very special, listed as a Grade II listed site. This means it's important for its history and design.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's Story
This church was built a long time ago, in the 1860s. It was a gift from Frances and Salusbury Kynaston Mainwaring. They built it to remember Charles Kynaston Mainwaring. A famous architect named George Gilbert Scott designed it.
Before this church, there were two others on the same spot. The very first one was a medieval church, built many centuries ago. Later, in 1788, a new church was built for Mary Kynaston. The church you see today replaced that one in 1863.
What the Church Looks Like
The church walls are made from yellow sandstone. The roof is covered with slate. It has a cool pattern, like diamonds, over the main part of the church (the nave). Over the front part (the chancel), the roof has a zig-zag design.
The chancel itself is shaped like a half-circle. You'll also see strong supports called buttresses on the corners. At the top of the roof, where the nave and chancel meet, there's a small tower holding a bell. This is called a bellcote.
The church has tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. Some of these windows have amazing stained glass. One window in the west remembers Charles Kynaston Mainwaring. Another window in the north-west part of the nave honors Jeremiah Libopuoa Moshueshue.
A Special Link to Lesotho
In the churchyard, there's a grave that tells a surprising story. It belongs to an African prince named Jeremiah Libopuoa Moshueshue (1839-1863). He was a son of Moshueshue I, who was a king in Lesotho. Lesotho is a country in Southern Africa.
This link between a small English village and Lesotho began with the vicar of Welshampton, Thomas Buckley-Owen. He was offered a job in Lesotho, which was then called Basutoland. He didn't go because the new church in Welshampton was almost finished. But he stayed in touch with the country.
King Moshueshue I sent two of his younger sons to study at a school in South Africa. One of them, Jeremiah Libopuoa, later came to England. He wanted to train to become a priest. In 1863, he visited Welshampton when the new church was officially opened. Sadly, during his visit, he became very ill with a fever and passed away.
Many years later, in 2010, the Queen of Lesotho, Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso, visited the church. She attended a special service and paid her respects at Prince Jeremiah Libopuoa's grave. It shows how important this connection still is today.
See also
- Listed buildings in Welshampton and Lyneal
