Description

SJ 31 SW WOLLASTON C.P. WOLLASTON

4/151 Church of St. John
-

- II

Shown on O.S. map as St. John's Chapel.
Parish church. 1787-8 on the site of a medieval chapel first recorded
in 1289 and probably reusing some materials; remodelled and porch and
vestry added in 1885; restored and bellcote replaced in 1911. The
hon. architect was H. N. Treasure (see plaque in porch). Coursed
Alberbury breccia and red sandstone rubble with red sandstone dressings;
porch and vestry of snecked dressed red sandstone with ashlar dressings;
C20 machine tile roof. Three-bay nave and chancel under one roof with
lean-to west porch and north vestry. Stepped plinth to west, chamfered
quoins and cyma-recta moulded cornice; C19 cross at apex of east gable,
and gabled west bellcote of 1911 with single pointed arch, chamfered off-
sets, moulded kneelers and weathervane. C18 round-arched windows with
inserted C19 'Venetian' tracery consisting of 2 chamfered round-arched
lights with circle above; C19 east window consisting of triple stepped
round-arched lancets with roll moulding and hoodmould with scroll stops.
Porch: chamfered plinth; west and north windows of 2 roll-moulded round
arches and hoodmould with scroll stops; vestry: lean-to roof and
integral stack to right; triangular-headed window in right-hand return
front; segmental-headed boarded door with keystone in left-hand return
front. Interior: 5-bay C18 roof with king post trusses, pairs of
purlins and ashlar pieces; 2 bays over chancel, division marked by
C19 pilasters on wall supporting open brackets to C18 truss which has
inserted C19 open trefoiled panels; east window has nook shafts with
moulded bases and stiff-leaf capitals, and roll-moulded rear-arches;
C19 chamfered archway to porch has hoodmould with carved stops; porch
has 3-bay lean-to roof with carved corbels; west window with chamfered
rear-arch; 3 steps up to chancel; encaustic floor tiles. Fittings: mainly
c.1885 including pews, choir stalls, lectern, altar rails; pulpit has
canted front with traceried panels; octagonal stone font with moulded
base, and bowl with inscription: "IHS / SUFFER THE / LITTLE CHILDREN /
TO COME UNTO / ME, AND FORBID / THEM NOT: FOR / OF SUCH IS / THE KINGDOM /
OF GOD", and wooden cover; painted coat of arms dated 1793 above western
arch. Leaded clear glass in windows. Plaque to Thomas Parr (not seen
at time of survey - July, 1985) who was reputed to have been 152 years
old when he died on the 15th November, 1635. Plaque in porch recording
1911 restoration. The contractor was George Wynne and the work included
the removal of the (probably C18) ceiling, a new bellcote (replacing a
possibly C18 hexagonal wooden one) and roof, and other general repairs.
The 1885 restoration cost £600. The church stands by the road in the
centre of the hamlet of Wollaston. B.O.E., p.321; V.C.H., Vol. VIII
pp.218-9; D. H. S. Cranage, An architectural account of the churches of
Shropshire, part 6, p. 538-9; Kelly's Directory of Herefordshire and
Shropshire(1905), p.300. -- -

Listing NGR: SJ3292812298

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26306812

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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