The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a fine old fabric of considerable magnitude, ornamented with a massive square tower at the west end, in which are eight musical bells. The structure was enlarged and beautified in 1807, and since that period it has undergone great improvements. A handsome organ was erected by subscription in 1812; it is stated that the old organ, a fine toned instrument, is now in one of the churches in London. The chancel, commonly called St. Mary’s, was destroyed in 1616, and the tower and part of the body of the church were demolished in the civil wars of 1644. The vicarage house, which stood on a piece of ground adjoining the churchyard, with many other buildings, were burnt to the ground at the same period, in consequence of the town being besieged. The church contains many handsome tablets and monumental inscriptions, among which is a beautiful canopy of elaborate workmanship, and underneath it two figures in the attitude of prayer, in memory of Hugh Yale, alderman of this town, and Dorothy, his wife, whose bodies were interred within the chancel of this church, before its demolition in 1616. On the north side of the chancel is an elegant mural monument, with a latin inscription, commemorative of Richard Maurice, who died in 1700, and other members of the family who died at a subsequent period. A superb monument at the east end of the chancel remembers Robert Powell Lloyd, who died in 1769, aged five years; Sarah Lloyd, mother of the above, who died in 1790; and Robert Lloyd, Esq., the father, who died in 1793. A neat tablet at the same end records the death of the Rev. Thomas Trevor, in 1784, vicar of this parish 50 years, and of Rhuabon 15 years, chaplain to W. W. Wynne, Bart., and one of his Majesty’s justices of the peace for the counties of Salop and Denbigh. There are various other marble tablets, some of them beautifully executed, which our limits will not allow us to notice. The living is a vicarage valued in the king’s book at £23. 15s. 7½d., now returned at £507, in the patronage of the Earl of Powis, and incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Salway. The iron gates facing the town were put up in 1738 at the expense of the parish, at a cost of £46 1s. 4d. The churchyard was enlarged in 1817. The elm trees were planted between the years 1707 and 1713. The vicarial tithes upon 1,832a. 2r. 23p. of land in the town and liberties of Oswestry are commuted for £70 1s. 6d., and the rectorial for £211. £13s. 6d. There are 82a. 2r. 7p. of land tithe free. Earl Powis is the impropriator and lord of the manor. The principal landowners are Earl Powis, W. W. Wynn, Bart.; Earl of Bradford; Richard Jones Croxon, Esq.; William Ormsby Gore, M.P.; Mrs. Lloyd, Thomas L. Longueville, Esq.; and Mr. Williams, besides whom are several other proprietors.
Trinity Church, situate in the Salop road, a neat fabric built of free stone in the decorative style of English architecture, was erected in 1837; it consists of nave and chancel, and the roof is of groined timber, which gives it a very interesting appearance. There are 670 sittings, of which 400 are declared free and unappropriated for ever, in consequence of a grant from the Incorporated Society, for building and enlarging churches. There are 28 pews in the body of the church, 29 in the gallery, and the free sittings are open benches. The gallery contains a small organ, which was presented to the church, on the condition that the incumbent for the time being be allowed to receive the rent of the six pews in front of the communion table, in lieu of the pews in the gallery, partly taken up by the organ, and partly thrown open as free sittings. The chancel exhibits some fine chiselling and decorative workmanship; the east window is also richly adorned with stained glass. The living is a perpetual curacy returned at £450, in the gift of the vicar of Oswestry, and is enjoyed by the Rev. John Jones.
The Independent Chapel, situate in Arthur-street, is a commodious and well built brick structure, with stone finishings, and a portico of the Doric order, which gives it a chaste appearance. The pews are arranged in a semicircular form, and there is a gallery; it will accommodate about 600 hearers. There is a flourishing society and a Sunday school in connection with the chapel.
The Baptist Chapel, situated in Smithfield, was built in 1805, and enlarged in 1818; it is provided with galleries, and will hold 300 persons.
The Methodist Chapel is a good brick structure, erected in 1811, in the Salop road, and will accommodate 400 worshippers.
The Primitive Methodist Chapel, built in 1801, and situated in Castle Fields, is a brick building cemented; it is neatly pewed and calculated to hold 600 hearers. There is a small burial ground annexed to the chapel, and a house has been built for the resident minister.
The Welsh Independent Chapel, a small fabric, is situated in Castle Fields. Divine service is performed in the Welsh language.
The Welsh Calvinistic Chapel (Zion), a good building of brick with a stuccoed front, is situated in Gateacre place, and was erected in 1836. The interior arrangements have a neat appearance. The service of this chapel is also in the Welsh language.
The Welsh Methodists meet for worship in a room near the Welsh walls. The society contemplate building a chapel in a short period.
The Plymouth Brethren assemble for worship in a large room on the premises of Mrs. Macdongall, in Bailey street.