The tithes of Oswestry afterwards became the property of the Earl of Arundel, Lord of Oswestry, and then of the Earl of Powis, who sold them in 1819 (excepting the liberties of Oswestry town and Middleton township) to Mr. W. Lloyd, of Aston, Mr. T. N. Parker, of Sweeney, the Hon. T. Kenyon, of Pradoe, and others.
Within the tower of the church are eight silver-toned bells, whose joyous peals on occasions of festivity give hilarity to all who hear them. A new clock was substituted for an old one in 1836, the cost of which was paid by public subscription.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary. A new organ was erected by subscription in 1812; and the organist, by the adoption of effective sacred music, and the choir, by its able execution of the beautiful psalmody selected, contribute much to the solemnity and effect of public worship in this venerable church. The present Organist is Mr. Edward Eyeley. It is stated that the old organ, a fine-toned instrument, is fixed in one of the metropolitan churches.
The interior of the church, especially on a Sabbath morning, when a numerous congregation generally assembles, presents a most delightful spectacle. The place where, for ages past, divine worship has been held, and the footsteps of grandsires and great-grandsires have led them to bow before the “throne of the heavenly grace,” cannot fail to exhibit an affecting scene to all who understand the frailty and brevity of human life.
The church was enlarged and beautified in 1807: and in 1831 a new entrance door was completed at the east or chancel end. A great improvement in the interior, both as to comfort and effect, would still be added, were a new set of pews erected. Many of the present pews are most unsightly and inconvenient. A new set, formed on the most approved principle of church seat-accommodation, would be acceptable to all pew-holders, giving neatness and adding comfort within the fabric which every member of the congregation would heartily approve. The inhabitants of the parish have accomplished much, in the way of public improvement, within the last few years; and the alterations we have now suggested would be a crowning point to their spirited exertions for the benefit and honour of the town.. The altar-piece might be removed, and a more suitable one introduced, at a trifling expense.
The Communion Plate belonging to the church consists of the following articles:—A silver cup, bearing the inscription, “Ex Dono Dauidi Edwards”; another cup, dated 1575, the gift of “Richard Stanni,” “Elder Mercer”; a silver flagon, the letters “I. H. S.” engraved thereon, with the inscription, “Given for the use of the Holy Communion, in the Parish Church of Oswestry, 1707”; and two silver salvers, the gift of Mrs. Elizabeth Roderick.
The Church-Yard is no ordinary resting-spot for the dead. As we have already said, it would be well now to close it as a place of sepulture. Sanitary motives would urge this change; and the feelings of those whose departed relatives or friends are about to be consigned to the grave should be religiously deferred to. The Church-yard may soon be surrounded by human dwellings, and then the newly-laid dead will lie amidst the busy living.
Its beautiful avenue, rendered still more pleasant in spring, summer, and autumn, by the lofty row of lime-trees which separates it from the space appropriated to the tenements of the dead, might be made still more impressive in character, were a neat lattice-work constructed, extending from tree to tree, to mark the line of demarcation between the avenue and church-yard more distinctly. A sketch of the Avenue, with the Alcove at the west end, is here given, as well as the florid, chastely-designed Gate leading to it from Church-Street. This gate was put up in 1738, at the expence of the parish. Country churchyards are always deeply interesting to the contemplative and thoughtful; and Gray’s truthful and pathetic Elegy, which appeals so powerfully to the best feelings of our nature, has invested them, however rude and humble, with an affecting character that touches the hearts even of the most indifferent. Oswestry Church-Yard, with its aged elms of more than a century’s growth; its sombre yews; its stately tombs and humble graves for patrician and plebeian dust, “the rich and the poor meeting together,” is a scene conveying monitory lessons to all who will seriously read them. Among the tombs are several, bearing appropriate inscriptions, containing the ashes of French prisoners of war, who died in Oswestry on their parole, between the years 1811 and 1814. The ancient entrance to the Church-yard from Upper Brook-Street, through the Griddle Gate, is a curious relic of byegone times. Formerly, on occasions of burial from the south side of the town, the coffin of a deceased party was placed temporarily on a bier within the porch of the Griddle Gate, and thence conveyed to the church. It will be seen from the engraving we give of this Gate that it was erected in 1631.
