St.Chad's Church Shrewsbury

St.Alkmunds Church in Shrewsbury

St Alkmund’s Church is one of Shrewsbury’s little known secrets, well worth finding. Reputedly founded circa 912 by Aethelfleda,. daughter of King Alfred, its tower and spire were rebuilt circa 1475 and the nave in 1795. Over 2,500 listed buildings in Shrewsbury provide a marvellous skyline punctuated by the steeple of St Chad’s (1792), the tower of St Julian’s (15th century), the tall spire (220ft) of St Mary’s (15th century) and the lower spire of St Alkmund’s (184ft). This skyline is immortalised in the poet A.E.Housman’s A Shropshire Lad –

“High the vanes of Shrewsbury gleam Islanded in Severn stream”.

St. Alkmunds church inside St Alkmund’s nave is Shropshire’s first serious Gothic Revival building, and has three wonderful cast-iron framed windows with Gothic tracery made at nearby Coalbrookdale in 1795, The altar is made in Riga oak with a white marble top and also dates from 1795. Both were designed by the architect John Carline, whose partner was the architect/builder John Tilley. The greatest treasure in the church is the east window, enamel painted by Francis Eginton of Birmingham in 1795. Eginton based his design on a print in his possession of The Assumption of the Virgin by Guido Reni. This painting dating from 1638 is now in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. Eginton copied the figure of the Virgin Mary, but altered the surrounding attributes, so that the figure now appears as a representation of the Christian Pilgrim, travelling through this life by faith, supported by the bible and the sacraments, and looking forward to the crown of everlasting life. This window is a national treasure, its colours aglow even on a dull day.

The doors of St Alkmund’s are open every day to enable visitors to enjoy its tranquillity in the heart of the town centre and to pray. Services are held as follows:

Sunday 10am Eucharist
Tuesday 1.05pm Eucharist
Thursday 10.30am Eucharist

Weddings and funerals are conducted when requested, as are Baptisms and other sacraments. The resident Priest conducts a ministry of one-to-one Spiritual Accompaniment at the church (by prior appointment Tel. 01743 244668).

St.Alkmunds Church in Shrewsbury Currently, St Alkmund’s congregation is working hard to raise money to repair and restore the church. Most valuable help has been received from English Heritage and the Georgian Group, and this has enabled the congregation to repair all three of the Coalbrookdale cast-iron windows during the past four years. English Heritage has now offered a significant sum for the complete repair of the roof and the re-leading of the gutters. The church has to raise £53,000 as its share of the total cost. At the same time, money is being collected to install toilets in the church. This will improve the facilities as a place of worship and also make it a suitable concert venue. It has excellent acoustics and clear sight lines, as there are no pillars.

Recent concerts have included a solo violin recital by Michael Bochmann and a classical guitar recital by Patrick Bashford. Other musical events will be held in the summer months of 2007 and the venue will be used during the Shrewsbury Summer Festival. The Harrison and Harrison organ (designed for Sydney Nicholson in 1931) has been placed in the church on long loan from the Royal School of Church Music. Kevin Bowyer gave the inaugural recital on this instrument when it was rebuilt in the church in September 2006. St.Alkmund’s church has been chosen as the headquarters for the Sam Baker School of Church Music, giving tuition to people wanting to lead music in their local churches. This is a major assets of benefit to many individuals and churches in the region.

We hope that you may be able to visit this church at some time in the future, and if you were able to support us financially in repairing and safeguarding this building for future generations, your gift should be sent to St Alkmund’s Restoration Fund, St Alkmund’s Church, St Alkmund’s Square, Shrewsbury SY1 1UH

God bless you on your pilgrimage.

Future events at St. Alkmund’s

For up-to-date information on any changes to these events, please contact:
St.Alkmund’s events: stalkmunds@stchadschurchshrewsbury.com
SBSCM events: davidleeke@stchadschurchshrewsbury.com

SBSCM refers to the Sam Baker School of Church Music, set up in 2006 and named after the former and distinguished teacher of its Director, David Leeke.

May 2008

1st Thursday ASCENSION DAY 1.05pm Eucharist
1st Thursday 7.30pm – 9pm SBSCM Event. Ralph Vaughan Williams: Lecture I. In preparation for the 200th anniversary of the birth of Shrewsbury’s most famous son, Charles Darwin, David Leeke presents (with musical extracts) four lectures about Darwin’s great nephew entitled ‘The Life and Music of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ who died 50 years ago this year. Admission £7 per lecture or £25 for all four lectures (see also 8th, 15th & 22nd May)
8th Thursday 7.30pm – 9pm SBSCM Event. Ralph Vaughan Williams: Lecture II. See Thursday 1st May for further information.
14th Wednesday 10am – 3.30pm SBSCM course for the Clergy: ‘How shall we sing the Lord’s song?’ Singing scriptural texts today. Professor John Harper. Cost £18 to include coffee and tea. (2 courses, 16th April & 14th May for £30)
15th Thursday 7.30pm – 9pm SBSCM Event. Ralph Vaughan Williams: Lecture III. See Thursday 1st May for further information.
17th Saturday 10am – 3.30pm SBSCM event for the Church musician: “What every church organist or music director ought to know: good practice and common sense for churches large and small” David Leeke and Kathryn Burningham £18 to include coffee and tea. (3 courses 19th April, 17th May & 21st June for £48)
22nd Thursday 7.30pm SBSCM Event Lecture IV: Ralph Vaughan Williams (David Leeke)
25th -26th Sunday & Monday Bank Holiday SBSCM Weekend.
26th Monday 1.30pm SBSCM annual Founder’s Day event – a concert given by The Redbury Singers to commemorate the 75th birthday of composer and SBSCM Trustee, Richard Lloyd Admission free with a retiring collection.

June 2008

St Alkmund’s for Shrewsbury: Shrewsbury for St Alkmund’s June 6th – 8th A Weekend of Celebration, restoring St Alkmund’s Church for the benefit of Shrewsbury’s Tourism Programme6th Friday 6.30pm - Promise Auction and Refreshments.

7th Saturday 10.30am - St Alkmund’s Fair with stalls, hogroast, music, etc.
14th Saturday 10.30am to 1.00pm - SBSCM event : The Sam Baker School of Church Music’s highly qualified staff will lead a taster morning to attract more individual organ, piano and vocal students. Admission free, coffee and tea at £1 per cup.
21st Saturday 10am – 3.30pm SBSCM event for the Church musician: “Planning music for services with a specific focus on the coming autumn”Kathryn Burningham and David Leeke. £18 to include coffee and tea. (3 courses 19th April, 17th May & 21st June for £48)

Monday 29 September – Wednesday 1 October SBSCM Singing Pilgrimage

Monday 29th 11am – Wednesday 2.30pm - ‘Singing with the Angels’ A choral pilgrimage visiting ancient churches and holy places in and around Shrewsbury led by Revd. Richard Hayes and David Leeke. £140 per person. 20% discount on bookings of 5 or more people. Includes some meals and tea and coffee and music hire, but accommodation is not included. 11am Reception and Welcome at St Alkmund’s Rehearsal and Singing at St Mary’s and St Chad’s
Tuesday 30th Walk to Haughmond Abbey and Battlefield.
Wednesday, Oct 1st 12.45pm Sung Eucharist in St Alkmund’s Lunch Pilgrims depart.

October 2008

11th Saturday 10.30am to 3.30pm - SBSCM event David Leeke and Kathryn Burningham give expert advice on all aspects of running choirs and, after lunch there will be a group of singers available so that specific practical help can be given to conductors. £28

For up-to-date information on any changes to these events, please contact:
St.Alkmund’s events: stalkmunds@stchadschurchshrewsbury.com
SBSCM events: davidleeke@stchadschurchshrewsbury.com