St Chad's Church occupies a prominent position in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire. The current church building was built in 1792, and with its distinctive round shape and high tower it is a well-known landmark in the town. It faces The Quarry area of parkland, which slopes down to the River Severn. The church is a Grade I listed building.[2]
The motto of the church is "open doors, open hearts, and open minds". This indicates the aspiration of the church to be a welcoming church, involved in the community, and on a collective journey seeking after God.[3]
The present building replaced an earlier church, dedicated to St Chad, situated near College Hill; this was a 13th-century building which was largely destroyed when the central tower collapsed in 1788. All that remains of the earlier building is a side chapel surrounded by a disused churchyard which also contains an exposed crypt.
Scottish architect George Steuart was commissioned to build a new church, and he submitted several preliminary designs. Due to a misunderstanding, Steuart went on to complete a circular plan which was not the Parish Church committee's preferred design; however, time was limited, and this was the design which was built.[6][7]
The foundation stone was laid on St Chad's day, 2 March 1790. The church was built of white Grinshill stone.[6][7] The building work was supervised by John Simpson (who later worked on several projects with Thomas Telford, including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct). Internally, the gallery was supported by slender cast iron pillars, an early example of cast iron used for this purpose; they were made by William Hazledine, a pioneering ironmaster who had a foundry in Shrewsbury.[8][9] (There are memorials to Simpson and Hazledine on either side of the sanctuary arch of the church.)[7]
The sanctuary window is a copy in stained glass of a triptych by Rubens in Antwerp Cathedral; it was made in the 1840s by David Evans, a local stained glass artist. The original pulpit, which obscured the altar, was removed in 1888; it was replaced by a copper and brass pulpit in Arts and Crafts style, placed to one side and giving a clearer view of the Sanctuary.[6][7]
books of remembrance of KSLI war dead of both World Wars, in separate cases, in addition to separate county books of remembrance to all war dead from the county of Shropshire.[12]
In 1913, a vestry off the right hand side of the entrance lobby was converted to a chapel of St Aidan, in memory of former vicar Richard Eden St Aubyn Arkwright. In 1951, at about the same time as a second storey was added to another vestry on the opposite side of the lobby, funds were raised to convert this chapel into a regimental chapel for the KSLI, resulting in an enlarged apse, new altar, rood screen, rails and chairs. In 1952 and 1966, Regimental colours were laid up here.[10]
After the First World War, the church's main sanctuary was refitted with a light oak reredos, designed by Cecil Lightwood Hare, new altar and wainscot as a memorial to the parish fallen of the war, repainted in gold leaf and cobalt in 1951.[13]
Churchyard
Still present in the now-disused churchyard is the headstone prop of Ebenezer Scrooge (played by George C. Scott) that was used in the 1984 film A Christmas Carol for the scene where Scrooge finds his own grave.[14] According to the Shrewsbury Town Crier, Martin Wood, the headstone is not a "prop" but an actual period headstone, on which the original inscription had deteriorated to the point that the movie production people asked the church if they could use it and inscribe the "Ebenezer Scrooge" words on it. Some of the original inscription can still be seen on the bottom part of the stone. Among those actually buried in the churchyard was Shrewsbury architect Edward Haycock, Sr.[15]
Music
Music is a strong tradition at St Chad's. The church has a robed choir which leads the music at many of the services. The church organ is a large three-manual pipe organ, built by Norman and Beard in 1904 and restored by Nicholson & Co Ltd in 1963 and Harrison & Harrison in 1985 and more recently in 2011.[16] The church hosts lunchtime organ recitals and other concerts.
^Official website, URL accessed 16 September 2010.
^ abcWelcome to St Chads Church Shrewsbury (leaflet obtained in the church 2010)
^ abcde"Official website: History of St Chad's with St Mary's, Shrewsbury". Retrieved 12 September 2013. Note this source is anachronistic in calling the body the Parochial Church Council - such bodies were not created until 1921 when they replaced Vestry Committees.
^"Graces Guide to British Industrial History: John Simpson". Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^"Graces Guide to British Industrial History: William Hazledine". Retrieved 2 September 2013.
^ abcFrancis, Peter (2013). Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance. YouCaxton Publications. p. 188. ISBN978-1-909644-11-3.
^ abcShropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance. p. 189.
^Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance, pp. 189–190
^Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance. pp. 190–191.
chad, church, shrewsbury, chad, church, occupies, prominent, position, shrewsbury, county, town, shropshire, current, church, building, built, 1792, with, distinctive, round, shape, high, tower, well, known, landmark, town, faces, quarry, area, parkland, which. St Chad s Church occupies a prominent position in Shrewsbury the county town of Shropshire The current church building was built in 1792 and with its distinctive round shape and high tower it is a well known landmark in the town It faces The Quarry area of parkland which slopes down to the River Severn The church is a Grade I listed building 2 St Chad s Church ShrewsburySt Chad s Church Shrewsbury seen from The QuarryLocationSt Chad s Terrace Shrewsbury SY1 1JXCountryUnited KingdomDenominationChurch of EnglandChurchmanshipLiberal CatholicWebsitewww stchadschurchshrewsbury comArchitectureHeritage designationGrade IDesignated10 January 1953 1 Architect s George SteuartYears built1792AdministrationDioceseDiocese of LichfieldClergyVicar s Mother Yejide PetersThe motto of the church is open doors open hearts and open minds This indicates the aspiration of the church to be a welcoming church involved in the community and on a collective journey seeking after God 3 Charles Darwin was baptised in St Chad s church in 1809 and as a young boy attended the church with his mother Susannah 4 In 2010 the church became a member of the Greater Churches Group 5 Contents 1 History 2 Churchyard 3 Music 4 Notable clergy 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory Edit Inside St Chad s Church looking towards the sanctuary Palladian style entrance to the church The present building replaced an earlier church dedicated to St Chad situated near College Hill this was a 13th century building which was largely destroyed when the central tower collapsed in 1788 All that remains of the earlier building is a side chapel surrounded by a disused churchyard which also contains an exposed crypt Scottish architect George Steuart was commissioned to build a new church and he submitted several preliminary designs Due to a misunderstanding Steuart went on to complete a circular plan which was not the Parish Church committee s preferred design however time was limited and this was the design which was built 6 7 The foundation stone was laid on St Chad s day 2 March 1790 The church was built of white Grinshill stone 6 7 The building work was supervised by John Simpson who later worked on several projects with Thomas Telford including the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Internally the gallery was supported by slender cast iron pillars an early example of cast iron used for this purpose they were made by William Hazledine a pioneering ironmaster who had a foundry in Shrewsbury 8 9 There are memorials to Simpson and Hazledine on either side of the sanctuary arch of the church 7 The church was opened on 19 August 1792 7 The sanctuary window is a copy in stained glass of a triptych by Rubens in Antwerp Cathedral it was made in the 1840s by David Evans a local stained glass artist The original pulpit which obscured the altar was removed in 1888 it was replaced by a copper and brass pulpit in Arts and Crafts style placed to one side and giving a clearer view of the Sanctuary 6 7 The entrance hall has many memorials relating to the 53rd Regiment of Foot and its successor regiment the King s Shropshire Light Infantry KSLI including alabaster tablet memorial to officers and men of the 53rd who died at the Battle of Sobraon 1846 10 large tablet to those of that regiment who died in the Indian Mutiny campaign 1857 59 10 tablet to those of the 1st Battalion KSLI who died in the Egyptian campaign of 1882 11 tablet to those of the 1st KSLI who died in the occupation of Suakim Sudan 1885 86 11 tablet above vestibule entrance to KSLI dead 4 700 all ranks of the First World War unveiled 1930 in presence of Poet Laureate John Masefield 11 and books of remembrance of KSLI war dead of both World Wars in separate cases in addition to separate county books of remembrance to all war dead from the county of Shropshire 12 In 1913 a vestry off the right hand side of the entrance lobby was converted to a chapel of St Aidan in memory of former vicar Richard Eden St Aubyn Arkwright In 1951 at about the same time as a second storey was added to another vestry on the opposite side of the lobby funds were raised to convert this chapel into a regimental chapel for the KSLI resulting in an enlarged apse new altar rood screen rails and chairs In 1952 and 1966 Regimental colours were laid up here 10 After the First World War the church s main sanctuary was refitted with a light oak reredos designed by Cecil Lightwood Hare new altar and wainscot as a memorial to the parish fallen of the war repainted in gold leaf and cobalt in 1951 13 Churchyard EditStill present in the now disused churchyard is the headstone prop of Ebenezer Scrooge played by George C Scott that was used in the 1984 film A Christmas Carol for the scene where Scrooge finds his own grave 14 According to the Shrewsbury Town Crier Martin Wood the headstone is not a prop but an actual period headstone on which the original inscription had deteriorated to the point that the movie production people asked the church if they could use it and inscribe the Ebenezer Scrooge words on it Some of the original inscription can still be seen on the bottom part of the stone Among those actually buried in the churchyard was Shrewsbury architect Edward Haycock Sr 15 Music EditMusic is a strong tradition at St Chad s The church has a robed choir which leads the music at many of the services The church organ is a large three manual pipe organ built by Norman and Beard in 1904 and restored by Nicholson amp Co Ltd in 1963 and Harrison amp Harrison in 1985 and more recently in 2011 16 The church hosts lunchtime organ recitals and other concerts Notable clergy EditSir Lovelace Stamer 3rd Baronet Vicar 1892 96 also Anglican Bishop of Shrewsbury 1888 1906 Charles Bulmer Maude Vicar 1896 1906 also Archdeacon of Salop 1896 1917 William Alonzo Parker Vicar 1942 45 later Anglican Bishop of Shrewsbury 1959 70 William Johnston Vicar later Bishop of Dunwich 1977 80 Robert Willis Curate 1972 75 later Dean of CanterburySee also EditGrade I listed churches in Shropshire Listed buildings in Shrewsbury northwest central area References Edit Church of St Chad Shrewsbury British Listed Buildings accessed 4 March 2015 Historic England St Chad s Terrace Church of St Chad 1344941 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 17 May 2009 St Chad s Church serving the local community Retrieved 11 September 2013 English Heritage Pastscape St Chad s Church English Heritage Retrieved 22 May 2010 permanent dead link Official website URL accessed 16 September 2010 a b c Welcome to St Chads Church Shrewsbury leaflet obtained in the church 2010 a b c d e Official website History of St Chad s with St Mary s Shrewsbury Retrieved 12 September 2013 Note this source is anachronistic in calling the body the Parochial Church Council such bodies were not created until 1921 when they replaced Vestry Committees Graces Guide to British Industrial History John Simpson Retrieved 2 September 2013 Graces Guide to British Industrial History William Hazledine Retrieved 2 September 2013 a b c Francis Peter 2013 Shropshire War Memorials Sites of Remembrance YouCaxton Publications p 188 ISBN 978 1 909644 11 3 a b c Shropshire War Memorials Sites of Remembrance p 189 Shropshire War Memorials Sites of Remembrance pp 189 190 Shropshire War Memorials Sites of Remembrance pp 190 191 Famous Grave Tour no 4 YouTube The Late Edward Haycock Esq Eddowes s Shrewsbury Journal 28 December 1870 p 5 Obituary of Haycock http www stchadschurchshrewsbury com Newsletters organrecitals2012 pdf dead link External links EditSt Chad s Church web site Coordinates 52 42 26 N 2 45 32 W 52 70722 N 2 75889 W 52 70722 2 75889 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Chad 27s Church Shrewsbury amp oldid 1100141108, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
