Shrewsbury: St Michael
Overview
Grid reference: SJ 497 136
Both nave and tower are of pale brick, with a plinth of about three feet of applied stone panels. The tower is of four stages, though the two rectangular lower stages are perhaps best considered as one stage interrupted by the prominent stone cornice which runs all-round the nave about three feet below the top of the walls.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, large rectangular 'Georgian preaching-room' nave; short-chancel, with organ chamber to the north and chapel to the south representing one bay of the nave externally. Vestry beyond organ chamber, evidently not original since its construction involved the partial bricking up of the eastern window on the north side of the nave.
Description of Archaeology and History
The body of the church and the west tower are by John Carline, 1830. The present chancel replaces Carline's shallow apse and was built in 1873 to designs by Edward Haycock.
Exterior Description
Both nave and tower are of pale brick, with a plinth of about three feet of applied stone panels. The tower is of four stages, though the two rectangular lower stages are perhaps best considered as one stage interrupted by the prominent stone cornice which runs all round the nave about three feet below the top of the walls. In the west wall of the tower is a tall round-headed window, of which there are also five on the north and south walls of the nave. Above the stone cornice on all four faces is a sunken panel finished with stucco. Then come the two octagonal stages influenced by the Lysicrates monument, the top stage only slightly smaller than the intermediate stage. Both have tall louvred openings on four sides, those of the lower stage being round-headed: unlike the windows of the nave, and the west - window, these have no moulded stone surrounds, however, and the effect of plain functional brickwork is the more apparent. In the intermediate sides of the two octagons are sunken panels, slightly narrower than the belffy openings, and brick rather than stucco. An intriguing subtlety of the lowest stage of the tower is the bands of moulded bricks at intervals of roughly two feet.
The church was designed to have two entrances, both on the south (and possibly for symmetry, there was one on the north where the door communicating with the vestry now is). These entrances, one in the eastern bay of the south nave wall and the other in the south wall of the tower, are both of the same pattern, plain Greek Doric pilasters with a marked entasis framing the doorway.
The chancel, though built of similar brick, is wildly incongruous. It has a steep tiled roof, angle buttresses and intermediary buttresses. In the north wall is a triplet of windows, the middle one being a trefoil with a cinquefoil above it, and then a light further east which has a triangular-headed cinquefoiled main light and a trefoil in a circlet above; the south wall has three lancet lights with cinquefoiled heads, of less eccentric design.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SJ 497 136
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.