I was delighted to receive an email recently from Professor John Patrick after I gave a lecture to the Friends of St Chad’s in Shrewsbury to help their fundraising project.
The church has so far raised £1.2 million during phase one of the project of a campaign to restore the unusual tower on one of the town’s most historic churches, pictured below.
More than 75 people attended the evening in the church when I spoke about the town’s three treasures from the 18th century – the Shrewsbury Chronicle founded in 1772, The Lion Hotel redeveloped in 1777 and St Chad’s rebuilt in 1792.
All three have a fascinating history but especially St Chad’s. In 1788 Thomas Telford warned that the tower was in danger of collapsing – and a few weeks later it did on July 9 that year.
A mix-up by members of the parochial church council meant that Scottish architect George Stewart built a round church rather than the rectangular one they thought they were getting.
I think many people will agree that the PCC got a more spectacular church in the end.
Renowned architectural scholar Sir Nikolaus Pevsner certainly agrees, saying: “It’s one of the finest neo classical churches in Britain which occupies an uncommonly beautiful position.”
One of the most famous members of the congregation was Charles Darwin, who attended the church with his mother Susannah after being baptised there in 1809.
To stop history repeating itself and the tower falling down again members of the congregation have been appealing for grants and have held a number of fundraising events.
They have done brilliantly raising £1.2 million so far and I wish them all the best with the remainder of their efforts.
My talk was well received and I really enjoyed the evening.
However, I was delighted when Professor Patrick wrote to say: “We at St Chad’s will always be in your debt! We are not yet quite sure how much we 'made' on Monday night. It would be at least £600. So you have helped the cause a great deal! Thus, many thanks.”
If any other group would like to hear my talk on The Three Treasures of Shrewsbury email John@jbutterworth.plus.com
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