St Peter's Church, Wrockwardine

Wrockwardine ( ) is a village and civil parish in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It lies north of The Wrekin and the M54/ A5, and west of Wellington. In 2011 the parish had a population of 3838.

There is a Church of England parish church, St Peter's, dating back to Saxon times.

The Village

The place-name 'Wrockwardine' is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as ''Recordine''. It appears as ''Wroch Wurthin'' in 1169, and ''Wrocwurthin'' in 1196. The name means 'homestead by the Wrekin'. St Peter's Church is the main central feature but there are a number of other buildings of historical interest. Wrockwardine Hall stands by the church, on the north side. From the south are the Alms-Houses, and the Old School House, both now private houses. There is a more modern village school opposite the church, used until 2014 as a private nursery but has also been converted into private houses.

On a small green to the north is an unusual war memorial, unveiled in 2006, consisting of a large boulder from the nearby Leaton Quarry, listing the village's dead from both World Wars.

The Alms-Houses were built in 1841 by tenants and neighbours of Edward Cludde of Orleton Hall, "in testimony of their respect for a man who was an eminent example of pure and undefiled religion, visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keeping himself unspotted from the world." A cedar tree was planted in 2011, to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the building.

Armorial Bearings

Wrockwardine Parish Council adopted (assumed) armorial bearings at its meeting of 12 December 2018 (Minute 18/104) Blazon: Armorial bearings. Vert, issuing from base a Saxon Church Or, and in chief two Fountains thereon a helmet with mantling Vert doubled Or and on a Wreath of the Liveries is set for Crest Issuing from a Mural Coronet an Owl Or perched upon a Gate Sable and in an Escrol below the achievement this Motto "Servimus Ultro".

St Peter's Church

The church is believed to be of Saxon origin, being mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, but the current building is of Norman origin with later modifications. It is of unusual plan in having a cruciform layout, with the tower at the cross-point rather than at the east or west end of the building. This dates from the 12th century, but the addition of ''The Cludde Chapel'' on the north transept at the end of the 14th century modifies this shape.

The building shows various evidences of its thousand-year history, beginning with the Norman features. These include a walled-up doorway suggestive of plans for future expansion. An original Norman window in the Chancel was restored in the 19th century with stained glass depicting Holman Hunt's painting of Christ as '' The Light of the World''. The church has several very fine stained glass windows. Some, like the one portraying St Peter, are miniatures at high level. Two windows are war memorials: one, at the east end of the south wall, portraying Joan of Arc and St Margaret of Scotland, is inscribed to the memory of Edith Mary Leake who died "in the service of her country" in July 1918 during World War I, the other, in the north wall of plain glass with inserted coloured fragments and uninscribed, is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel Oldham, 4th Gurkha Rifles killed in action in Burma in World War II, who also has an inscribed stone plaque on the left side of the chancel arch.''Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance'', p.150.

A brass plaque commemorates men "associated with the parish" who served during the First World War, including four who died, one of whom, Midshipman David Frank Davies, Royal Navy, has his own stone memorial plaque on the south wall.

A kitchen and disabled toilet has been built. Because of the Listed Building status, there were severe restrictions as to how this could be built. It was constructed in one corner, but no alteration to the existing walls was allowed, including for ventilation. This was covered by means of an ionisation air purifier. This method is widely used in Europe, but this is believed to be the first such use in Britain.A Church Warden in conversation (09/02/2009), who reported that English Heritage were interested to be able to suggest this method to other listed buildings.

In 2015, a scheme of restoration and reordering was proposed. This will include repairs to stonework and roofs, upgrading of the heating system and the building of new community and meeting rooms. Work should begin in 2016. Funding will come from English Heritage and local fundraising.

The church is equipped with an audio induction loop system installed as part of a customised sound system.

Wrockwardine Church is a popular venue for weddings.

Transport

Wrockwardine is located between the B4394 and B5061 roads, and north of junction 7 of the M54 motorway/ A5 dual carriageway. Wellington is located directly to the east, whilst Admaston is to the north.

Scenes of Wrockwardine

File:Wrockwardine village 03.jpg, Location of the War Memorial, with former blacksmith's house on far side of the green.
File:Wrockwardine Village 04.jpg, Wrockwardine War Memorial.
File:Wrockwardine village 05.jpg, View from War memorial towards the church.
File:St Peters, Wrockwardine.jpg, St Peters Church in Wrockwardine, South West Aspect.
File:Wrockwardine Church 05.jpg, War Memorial plaque in St Peter's Church.
File:Wrockwardine Church 06.jpg, Window in St Peter's Church.
File:Wrockwardine Church 02.jpg, "Three Wise Angels". Detail of a window in St Peter's Church.
File:Wrockwardine Church 04.jpg, The St Peter window in St Peter's Church.

See also

* Nash - "lost" village near Wrockwardine

References

External links

Telford Culture ZoneVillage websiteSt Peter's Church on ''A Church Near You''Wrockwardine Parish Council website

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Villages in Shropshire
Civil parishes in Shropshire
Telford and Wrekin