| St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury | |
|---|---|
 The current building of St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury, seen from The Quarry | |
 | |
| Location | St Chad's Terrace, Shrewsbury, SY1 1JX |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic Celtic Christianity |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| Website | www.stchadschurchshrewsbury.com |
| History | |
| Founded | c560 |
| Founder(s) | ? Brochwel Ysgithrog;? King Offa |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 10 January 1953 [1] |
| Architect(s) | George Steuart |
| Years built | 1792 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Rev Samuel Mann |
St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury is traditionally understood to be founded in Saxon times, and King Offa is believed to have founded the church,[2] though it is possible it has an earlier foundation even than that.
It is possible it was operating on its initial site from buildings that were part of a royal palace established in 500s CE,[3] Kingdom of Powys who had their capital at Shrewsbury, when it was known as Pengwern.
For a period of nearly 1000 years the church was at the original College Hill site, only moving to its current building and site in 1792.
The distinctive round shape and high tower of the new building is a well-known landmark in the town, near the Quarry area of parkland. The current building is a Grade I listed building.[4]
The motto of the church is "open doors, open hearts, and open minds". This indicates the aspiration of the church to be a welcoming church, involved in the community, and on a collective journey seeking after God.[5]
Charles Darwin was baptised in St Chad's church in 1809, and as a young boy attended the church with his mother Susannah.[6]
In 2010, the church became a member of the Greater Churches Group.[7]
- ^ Church of St Chad Shrewsbury British Listed Buildings, accessed 4 March 2015.
- ^ https://www.nationalchurchestrust.org/sites/default/files/2021-02/ChildrensTrailSHREWSBURYStChad%28TheArtsSociety%29.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Montgomeryshire collections relating to Montgomeryshire and its borders. | Vol. 82 | 1994 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales". journals.library.wales. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
- ^ Historic England. "St Chad's Terrace, Church of St Chad (1344941)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
- ^ "St Chad's Church serving the local community". Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ "Historic England Research Records: Church of St Chad". Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Official website, URL accessed 16 September 2010.