The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, stands on a considerable elevation, overlooking the Mere, and presents a fine specimen of ecclesiastical architecture, for the most part in the decorative style. It is a spacious cruciform structure, comprising nave, chancel, side aisles, transepts, two side chapels, and a handsome square tower, adorned with pinnacles. The sacred edifice underwent a thorough restoration during the year 1849, when an entirely new nave and side aisles were built, at a cost of upwards of £8,000, from a design of George G. Scott, Esq., architect. The original nave bore marks of being the most ancient part of the building, and presented traces of the old Norman style. One of the pillars which stands near the pulpit on the north side of the western arch of the tower is the only part of the old nave remaining. On entering the church at either of the transept doors the spectator cannot fail to admire the bold span of the central arches on which the tower rests. The exterior of the eastern end remains as it was, the work of enlargement being confined to the western side. The roof is of open timber work of very high pitch, and the curve of the beams according so exactly with the form of the central arches, renders the vista of the church singularly fine. The same character of roof is extended over the side aisles. This part of the building receives the bulk of the congregation, and is neatly fitted up with open seats of oak, uniform in their character, with their facings relieved by tracery of various patterns, and affording about 900 appropriated sittings. The transepts have been provided with benches, thereby affording room for more than 300 sittings. On the north side of the western arch of the tower stands the pulpit, which is of stone, and richly carved. On the opposite side is the desk for reading prayers; and under the central part of the tower is placed the lectern, from which the lessons are read. The chancel has been thoroughly restored and altered, and the old screens which separated it from the side chapels renovated, and decorated with highly-finished tracery. On each side are stalls with carved finials, and otherwise ornamented, containing seats for the clergy and the choir. The paving is composed of encaustic tiles, in patterns which increase in richness as they approach the east. The altar stands on an elevation of five steps from the level of the entrance of the chancel, and is backed by a reredos of encaustic tiles. The three sedilia on the south side, which were in good preservation, have been restored to their original use. By means of a separate subscription a new organ, which cost 300 guineas, built by Holditch, of London, has been placed in the south chapel: the instrument is of great power and sweetness, and finely contributes to the musical part of the services. A new octagonal font of carved stone—an exact representation of the old one—has been placed in the south aisle. The south chapel, commonly called the Otely chapel, is distinguished by a curious oak roof, with carved panels, and though it cannot lay claim to a date earlier than the 16th century, yet it forms one of the most beautiful features in the old part of the church. This chapel contains a fine altar tomb, elaborately ornamented, on which are recumbent figures cut in marble, to the memory of Francis Kynaston and his wife, with the date 1790.
Other decorations, in various parts, are not wanting to help the effect and beauty of the restoration. Besides the rich carving in stone on the corbels and doors, and the wood tracery and highly-finished screen work, eighteen of the windows are richly ornamented with stained glass, by the liberality of various donors. The magnificent east window, the gift of Robert Clarke, Esq., late agent to the Bridgewater estates, was executed by Evans, of Shrewsbury, some twenty years ago. In the different compartments of the window are the four evangelists; the arms of David Prince of Wales; Llewellyn Prince of Wales; Sir Roger le Strange, who in the reign of Edward III., granted the second charter to the town; Lord Chancellor Egerton, &c., &c. The west window, a beautiful specimen of the decorated Gothic, is conceived and executed in the highest taste, and is illustrative of the four Christian graces of Faith, Hope, and Charity. It was the joint presentation of J. and G. Stanton, Esqs., in memory of Thomas Stanton, Esq., and was executed by Warrington of London. In the south transept is a fine window by Wailes of Newcastle, in memory of the late vicar, the Rev. J. A. Cotton, added by his surviving family. The three windows in the south aisle are by the same artist, and all gifts to the church. The first, representing the crucifixion of our Lord, was presented by the widow of the late Captain Fowler; the next, the gift of the Oswell family, is illustrative of our Saviour’s ascension into heaven; the third represents infant and adult baptism, and was presented by Colonel Salisbury. Some of the other windows are filled with ornamental glass, with a light pattern foliage upon each square, and scrolls containing texts of scripture running obliquely through them. One of the same sort, but more richly ornamented, is placed in the Oteley chapel, in memory of some of the faithful retainers of the household of C. K. Mainwaring, Esq. The church has thus been rendered one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical edifices in the county, by the liberality of the parishioners and other donors, under the skill and taste of its able architect. The extreme length of the church is 140 feet, and width 79 feet. The late Countess of Bridgewater gave the munificent sum of £3,300 towards the restorations; the Diocesan Society, £350; the Incorporated Society for Enlarging and Building Churches, £150; and £227. 2s. 6d. was collected after a sermon preached by the Bishop of Lichfield at the consecration of the church, on the 11th October, 1849. The living is a vicarage, valued in the King’s book at £17. 18s. l½d.; returned in the Clergy List at £386; in the patronage of the trustees of the late Earl of Bridgewater, and incumbency of the Rev. John David Day, M.A.; curate, Rev. John Peake, B.A. The churchyard was enlarged in 1850, by the addition of near half an acre of land on the west side of the church. The vicarage is pleasantly situated on elevated ground near the south side of the churchyard. Ellesmere is remarkable for the longevity of its inhabitants: in 1767 Jane Holt died, at the age of 108 years; and her husband died in 1757, aged 98 years. Among the various memorials in the churchyard is a remarkable epitaph to William Parks, who died at Lee, in 1746, aged 104 years:—
“Interr’d here, lies one hundred years and four;
No one knew scripture less and virtue more:
Peace his ambition, contentment was his wealth,
Honesty his pride,—his passions health,
The father’s duty, and the husband’s guide;
By nature good, the age’s wonder died.”
The Independent Chapel, situated in Chapel street, is a plain brick building, erected in 1815; it is provided with galleries, and has accommodation for about 500 worshippers. The Wesleyan Chapel is a small fabric in Watergate street, erected in the year 1844. There is also a Wesleyan Association Chapel, built in 1835, and a Primitive Methodist Chapel, built in 1840, both situated in Scotland street. The National School, which stands near the wharf, has an attendance of 160 scholars. The school room is spacious and lofty, and was built at the sole expense of the Countess of Bridgewater, who also gave the sum of £200 towards the support of the school. The Girls’ National School, situated on St. John’s hill, has an attendance of 85 children. The vicar, with a laudable desire to extend the advantages of education, established what is termed the Middle School, in 1848, on St. John’s Hill, where the youths are instructed in the higher branches of learning. The school is built of wood, and covered with thatch, and the interior lined with panelled oak, taken from the old church on its restoration. It was built at the sole expense of the vicar, whose zeal and persevering efforts in the education of youth are worthy of commendation. The Town Hall, a handsome building of freestone, was erected by the munificence of the late Countess of Bridgewater. The lower compartment of the structure is used for the sale of butter, poultry, &c., on the market days; above it is a spacious room for magisterial and other purposes, with suitable offices. The magistrates hold a petty sessions here on the first Monday in the month. The Countess of Bridgewater kindly granted the use of the large room to the Mechanics’ Institution, which was established in 1845. There are about forty members, adults paying 6s. per annum, and apprentices 4s. A library has been established, and gratuitous lectures are occasionally given by the clergy and gentlemen in the neighbourhood, on interesting and scientific subjects. G. H. Smith is the secretary. A Court Leet is held annually, when a coroner and two bailiffs are appointed. The Savings’ Bank is situated in Scotland street. It was established in 1817, and then held in a private house. The present structure was built in 1830, from the surplus funds of the bank, at a cost of £550. The capital stock of the bank on November 20th, 1849, was £29,562. 15s. 2¼d., at which time there were 752 separate accounts, of which eight were charitable societies, having deposits to the amount of £854. 14s. 10½d., and twelve friendly societies, the deposits of which amounted to £3,527. 15s. 2¼d. Of the total depositors there were 392 whose respective balances did not exceed £20; 180 above £20 and not exceeding £50; 90 above that sum and not exceeding £100; 41 not exceeding £150; 21 not exceeding £200; and 8 above £200. Mr. William Lee is the actuary. Gas Works have been established in the town by a company of shareholders. The works are situated near the canal wharf. The commercial intercourse of Oswestry is facilitated by the Shropshire union canal, previously noticed. The township of Oswestry, in 1841, comprised 446 houses and 2,326 inhabitants.
The Ellesmere Union House is a spacious brick structure, pleasantly situated about a quarter of a mile from the church, on a gentle acclivity overlooking the Mere. It was built in 1792, and will accommodate 350 inmates. The average number in the house is usually about 150. The internal arrangements are well managed, and have a clean and orderly appearance. The union comprehends eighteen parishes, of which nine are in the county of Flint, and nine in Shropshire, embracing an area of 109 square miles. The parishes are Bettisfield, Bronington, Halghton, Hanmer, Iscoyd, Overton, Penley, Tybroughton, Willington, Baschurch, Ellesmere, Hadnal Ease, Hordley, Middle, Ness Great, Ness Little, Petton, and Welsh Hampton. The south-west wing is occupied by the males, and the north-east wing by the females. In the latter is the Chapel, which is neatly and appropriately fitted up, and set apart for divine worship. In this respect, we think the authorities of the Ellesmere union have set a laudable example, which might be followed by other unions; for the honest poor are scarcely put on a level with the felons of our prisons in chapel accommodation. There are twenty-three guardians appointed by the different parishes. Richard George Jebb, Esq., is chairman; Thomas Wood Lee, Esq., vice-chairman; Rev. George Walker, chaplain. The surgeons are:—Thomas Gwynn, for the house and town district; Thomas Mousley, for Hordley and Dudliston district; Edward Ellis Eyton, Welsh Hampton district; Charles Tomlinson, Hanmer district; John Ellis Eyton, Overton district; Mr. Broughton, Baschurch district; and Andrew M. Needham, for the Middle district. Clerk: Andrew Bickley. Relieving officers: John Wood Jones, Ellesmere district, and John Poycott, Hanmer district. Master: John Pembrey Pritchard. Matron: Sarah Pritchard. Schoolmaster: Edward Jones. Schoolmistress: Mary Pay.
Charities.—Edward Jeffereys, by his will, bearing date January 4th, 1687, devised a messuage and lands, in Osbaston, to the churchwardens and overseers of the parish of Oswestry and Ellesmere, upon trust, to dispose of two parts of the yearly profits for the relief of poor inhabitants of Ellesmere, 16s. 8d. at Christmas, and the rest on Good Friday; and 16s. 8d. of the yearly profits to be divided among the poor inhabitants of Maesbury, Moreton, and Crickett—6s. 8d. to the former, and 5s. each to the two latter townships. The property thus devised consists of two cottages and six closes, containing together 5a. 1r. 22p. It is let, from time to time, by the churchwardens of Ellesmere, and now produces a rental of £12. 2s.
The following benefactions were probably laid out in the purchase of the Whixall estate, as hereafter noticed:—£10 given by Jerome Hanmer, the interest to be applied in apprentice fees; £6 by Hugh Dod, for a distribution of bread in Hardwick and about the Perthy; £20 by William Thorowgood, for the instruction of poor children; £50 by John Lyth, for the use of the poor; £50 by Catherine Pennant, the interest to provide twelve blue coats for six poor men and six poor women; £20 by Catherine Wenlock, the interest to educate five boys; £10 by Thomas Pitchford, for the poor of Trench and Northwood; £5 by Catherine Higginson, for a distribution of bread in Ellesmere; £5 by Edward Teggin, for bread to be distributed in Hardwick; £7 by William Pearce, for charitable uses; £40 by John Powell, the interest to be given among poor inhabitants of Ellesmere and Colemere; £20 by Mrs. Powell, for the same purpose; £10 by William Pearce, for the benefit of the poor of Welsh Northwood; £10 by John Davies, for a distribution of bread every Sunday; £10 by John Higginson, for the good of the poor; £5 by Charles Mason, for charitable uses; £10 by Margaret Eddowes, the interest to be given away among the poor of Trench, Northwood, and Hampton’s Wood. These several gifts amount in the whole to the sum of £288. About the year 1733, the several charitable legacies left to the poor of the parish had for some time laid dead, with interest, when the churchwardens purchased an estate at Whixall, for the sum of £320, having borrowed £30 to make up that sum. The estate consists of seven closes in Whixall, containing 22a. 0r. 30p. There is also an allotment of peat ground on Whixall Moss, containing 1a. 2r. 25p. The premises are let at a yearly rent of £28, and after deducting the amount of any incidental expenses that may be incurred, is generally applied in the following manner, viz.:—£10 as a subscription to the National School; £2 to Dudleston School; £4 to Cockshut School; £3. 14s. 9d. for three gowns and three coats for old men and old women; 12s. to the poor of Colemere; 12s. to the poor of Northwood; 12s. to the poor of Trench; £1. 16s. for a distribution of bread; and the residue is distributed by the vicar and the churchwardens in small sums among the most necessitous poor.
William Wenlock, by will, 1691, charged his tenement, with its appurtenances, in Northop, in the county of Flint, with the payment of £6 per annum, to buy yearly good books, and particularly Bibles, the Whole Duty of Man, and other books of practical divinity, to be distributed in the parish of Northop and Ellesmere—£3 thereof to be expended for each parish. The £3 is annually received by the vicar of Ellesmere, and the amount is laid out in the purchase of Bibles, and other books published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
Jane Higginson, by will, 1707, gave to the poorest and most necessitous children of the parish of Ellesmere, the sum of £6, payable out of certain premises once in every five years—20s. thereof to be expended in clothing. The sum of £6 is received by the vicar once in five years, which is generally disposed of in buying different articles of clothing; but occasionally a portion has been paid for their schooling.
Ruth Davies left £10, the interest to be given in bread to the poor, every Sunday in Lent. This sum is secured, with other charity money hereafter mentioned, on the Ellesmere House of Industry. The yearly sum of 9s. is paid as interest, and given away in bread. John Higginson, in 1771, bequeathed £20 for the benefit of the poor. This sum is also secured on the House of Industry, and 18s. paid as the interest thereof.