SAINT ALKMUND’S CHURCH
is situate at a short distance from St. Mary’s, and its cemetery adjoins that of St. Julian’s.
The fine old cruciform church of this parish was inconsiderately destroyed in 1794, under a mistaken apprehension of its stability. The present building, with the exception of the tower and spire, which fortunately escaped the fate of the old church, was opened for divine service Nov. 8, 1795, at a cost of rather more than £3000.
The new structure is of Grinshill stone, and in the style called modern gothic, having six lofty pointed windows on each side, filled with slender mullions of cast-iron; between the windows are graduated buttresses.
The interior is handsomely fitted up, and the general effect pleasing, although not in strict conformity with a gothic building,—wanting that sombre grandeur characteristic of this style of architecture. It is 82 feet long by 44 feet wide, with a small chancel terminated by a pointed window filled with enamelled glass emblematical of “Evangelical Faith,” depicted in the character of a female figure in the attitude of kneeling upon a cross, with her arms extended, and eyes elevated towards a celestial crown which appears in the opening clouds. The countenance has an interesting expression of adoration, and the motto, “Be thou faithful unto death,” &c. is inscribed on an open volume. The window was painted by the elder Egginton, and cost 200 guineas.
At the west end is a capacious gallery, containing a small fine-toned organ by Gray, of London, erected by a subscription in 1823.
The principal entrance to the church is in the base of the tower, under an elegant pointed arch recessed within a square aperture, on either side of which are niches, most barbarously repaired in 1825; above is a bold mullioned window in the style of the sixteenth century, when the tower and spire were probably built. In this window are two ancient escutcheons in stained glass, displaying England and France quarterly, and the arms of Richard Sampson, Bishop of Lichfield, and Lord President of the Marches from 1543 to 1548.
The tower is finely proportioned, being flanked with double buttresses gradually diminishing, and terminated with a crocketed pinnacle; an open parapet of pointed arches surrounds the base of the spire, which, though not remarkable for height, is considered by persons of good taste “to possess singular elegance of form.” The tower contains eight musical bells, recast in 1813, and is 70 feet high, the spire 114, making a total of 184 feet from the ground.
In a vault beneath this church are interred the remains of Thomas Jones, Esq. who died in 1642. He was six times bailiff, and the first Mayor of Shrewsbury; also those of Sir Thomas Jones, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, who died 1692, to whom and other members of this ancient Shropshire family are several memorials. Other monumental tablets also relieve the walls of the building.
The old structure contained many curious brasses and monuments; the former were sold, and the latter dispersed, on its unnecessary demolition.