Depart from
the hotel at 10:00
Tour starts at 10:15 (Tour ends approx. 13:00)
Join us for a
detailed look at the splendour and story of Shrewsbury’s largest and most
physically abused ecclesiastical building. Founded as a Benedictine Monastery
in 1083 (on the site of an earlier church), this beautiful abbey has some
harrowing stories to tell, splendorous scars to examine, and layers of change
written all over the building fabric. The changes all came in the name of
progress, engineering, efficiency and change, but the abbey still stands
strong, in use and well visited in 2025. Following on from this, there will be
further tours of two of the main town centre churches, examining contrasting
architectural styles and current roles in the town.
Following
this, we will move on to tours of two of the main town centre churches,
examining contrasting architectural styles and current roles in the town.
St Mary’s
Church, which is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust, dates from
Saxon times with beautiful additions from the 12th-century onwards. Inside, the
atmosphere is peaceful with the soaring stone arches highlighting the church's
great treasure - its stained glass.
We have a unique collection of medieval stained glass, much brought from Europe by two remarkable clergymen and installed during the 18th and 19th centuries. There is also an internationally significant collection of Flemish painted glass roundels, some of which were stored in a filing cabinet until last year (now on display thanks to NLHF grant).
The 14th-century 'Jesse window'; filled with figures of Old Testament kings and prophets, includes scenes from the life of St Bernard showing him riding a mule, curing the sick and ridding an abbey of flies!
Warmth and richness are also provided by superb Victorian coloured tiles on the floor. Lifting your eyes upwards, you will see the wonderful fifteenth-century carved oak ceiling of the nave, with a profusion of animals, birds and angels.
This is a
much-visited civic church in the centre of Shrewsbury, open to the public
throughout the day, which is used as a concert venue, as well as a place of
worship.
Tour lead(s):
- Don Smith - Shrewsbury Abbey, Robert Milton & Tim Ratcliffe
