Monument Type(s):

• MANOR? (Late Saxon - 800 AD to 1066 AD)
• MINSTER? (Late Saxon - 800 AD to 1066 AD)
• PARISH CHURCH (Medieval to Late 18th century - 1066 AD to 1799 AD)
• PARISH CHURCH (Late 18th century to Mid 19th century - 1799 AD to 1869 AD)

Summary

A medieval church, replaced by a later church in 1799. This was subsequent replaced by the Church of Holy Trinity in the 19th century (PRN 10681). It has been suggested that it was on the site of a minster, at the centre of a Late Saxon Royal demesne.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA5566 - 2003 evaluation at Holy Trinity Church, Meole Brace by Marches Archaeology (Ref: Marches HTMB03A)
• ESA7042 - 2003 DBA and walkover survey at Holy Trinity Church, Meole Brace by Nigel Baker

Description

Church existed in C18 but all trace of Medieval building has gone, taken down 1799. <1>

In 1724 the roof was ceiled, walls newly plastered and a gallery erected. In 1789 roof and interior were repaired, S side of chancel cased, and windows enlarged and glazed. A new church erected 1799 was taken down in 1869 . This church was either at SJ48611055 or SJ48641052. Present church (PRN 10681) erected 1867. <2>

A coffin shaped sepulchral stone was discovered below the tower of the Med. church when demolished in 1799. It was 28 ins long, 13 ins wide at the head, 9 3/4 ins wide at the base and marked with a crudely inscribed double-circle. Claimed to be Saxon from an early church. <3>

There may have been a Saxon minster on this site. The medieval and 18th century churches were to the south east of the existing church. The 1799 church was brick-built. <4>

A desk-based assessment of the site was carried out in July 2003 in association with a proposed extension of the present church into Glebe Field (the Trinity Centre). The earliest evidence of the appearance and fabric of the medieval church, dedicated to All Saints, comes from illustrations of the late 18th-century, just pre-dating its demolition and replacement. It is shown in a watercolour of 1787 as mainly of sandstone construction, with the gable of the east wall and the belfry stage of the west tower of timber framing. The 18th century church was, according to <3>, built on the same site as its predecessor. The Tithe Map of 1843 shows the 1799 church with its added transepts. A discussion of the origins of the church as a possible minster is discussed as seemingly "pushing the available evidence to its limit". It is not mentioned in Domesday and its recorded architectural form was extremely basic, with no transepts and no elongated chancel. However, there is no doubt that Meole was a Saxon royal estate, and that the area of the church and manor house lies at its core. The footprint of the 1799 building is marked by a series of commemorative marker stones but is also obvious as a raised rectangular platform, projecting out from the slope down to the east and south in the SE quarter of the churchyard. <5>

Described as a prime candidate for a minster church. It was certainly a rectory when given to Wigmore Abbey between 1155 and 1174. The church surved a substantial area of what had, until shortly after the conquest, been royal demesne, the heartland of a formerly extensive Royal estate. <6>

The church pulled down in 1799 had an E gable of timber with two tiers of queen struts and collars above the tie. <7>

Shropshire Archives hold a watercolour of Holy Trinity, Meole Brace (Reference 6001/372/1/32), by Reverend Edward Williams, dated to 1787, showing the Medieval church, with a four stage stone tower, the top stage being timber-framed and topped by a pyramidal roof. Gable end of the W elevation is also half-timbered. This church was demolished and replaced by a cruciform brick church in 1799, that was again demolished and replaced by the present church in 1867-70. A small-scale thumbnail can be found via their online catalogue: https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X6001_19_372A_32 <8>

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.