The current (2020) Trinity Methodist church on Victoria Road, Shifnal TF11 8AE with its 80′ spire, is the former Shifnal Wesleyan Methodist chapel. the chapel opened on the 29th September 1880. It seated 350 worshippers.
It replaced an earlier chapel built in 1815-6 at the corner of Cheapside and Shrewsbury Road. That building still exists as the rear part of Paton’s garage.
You can read more about the chapels and see a picture on Janice Cox’s Shropshire’s Non-Conformist Chapels website here.
Grid ref: SJ 748078 12B Victoria Road, Shifnal TF11 8AE (1880 chapel)
SJ 74850 07800 Cheapside TF11 8BN (1816 chapel)
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SHREWSBURY CHRONICLE, 24 October 1879, page 7.
“SHIFNAL.
LAYING THE MEMORIAL STONES OF A NEW WESLEYAN CHAPEL AT SHIFNAL. For some years there has been but very inadequate provision for carrying out the work of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Shifnal, and the congregation determined to make an effort to raise funds to provide such provision. Their first efforts were so successful that they were led to purchase a site in New Street, from Mr. Parkes, for £600, and to enter into a contract for building a chapel at a cost of £2,600. The work has been begun, and is now so far advanced that on Tuesday the memorial stones were laid … Before entering upon the proceedings, we might say that the following is a description of the building:- The new building will be in the geometric style of Gothic architecture, and will be built of red brick, with Grinshill stone dressings. The internal dimensions of the chapel will be 62ft. 6in. by 38ft. giving accommodation for 350 on the ground floor, and will be arranged for future end gallery to accommodate 100 additional sittings. The area of the chapel will be roofed in one space broken towards the front into a centre gable and side-wings. A stone turret, 80ft. high, will be at the western side of the centre gable, set back from the front of the building, to suit the inequality of the site. A projection, containing provision for staircase to future gallery, will occupy a corresponding position on the eastern side. The centre gable will contain a file-light traceried window and a moulded and gabled doorway. The side walls are pierced with tracery-headed windows, divided by massive buttresses. Internally the roof is ornamentally designed and the principal timbers exposed to view. The pulpit, seatings, screens, and other joiners’ work internally will be stained and varnished. Vestries are being provided at the rear of the chapel, also a schoolroom, 44ft. by 28ft., and class-room. The work is being carried out by Mr. Yates, of Shifnal, at a cost of about £2,600 from the designs and under the superintence of Mr. H. Fleeming, of Wolverhampton. The proceedings commened on Tuesday at 2-30 p.m. … a large number of persons had assembled at the site … Rev. W. Davies, on behalf of the trustees, handed to Dr. Melson a trowel and mallet, for the purpose of laying the first stone … he said he was simply there as the representative of Mrs. Pigeon … on her behalf he laid a £50 cheque upon the stone. In a cavity of the second stone was a bottle, which … contained a number of documents connected with Wesleyan Methodism. The Rev. W. Davies read an inscription on a brass plaque which was placed on the stone, and which recorded the names of those who laid the stones and the various persons connected with the building fund. The Rev. T. Adams then presented a trowel and mallet to Mr. J. Howard-McLean … I therefore lay upon this stone, on behalf of my wife and myself, a cheque for £200, towards the building of a House of God … Mr. J. Leake handed a trowel and mallet to Mr W. E. Garnett Botfield … The Rev. J. H. Slack, in handing a trowel and mallet to the Rev. T. Adams, superintendent of the circuit, said it was with pleasure that he handed him the trowel … Mr. W. Beetlestone presented a trowel and mallet to Mr. Edge … Mr. Benjamin Farmer presented a trowel and mallet to Mr. J. Farnell to lay the last of the memorial stones … At five o’clock about sixty of the leading members and friends of the church sat down to a cold colletion in the Town Hall … there was also a public tea at the British Workman, at which a large number partook. At half-past six there was a public meeting in the Town Hall, when addresses were delivered by the ministers and others … In addition to the sum of £343 10s. laid on the memorial stones, the following sums have been promised or received:- Proceeds of bazaar, £335 15s. 6d.” [there follows a list of individuals and the amount that they had donated.]
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There is a VERY detailed account of the stone-laying ceremony in the Wellington Journal, 25 October 1879, page 7. There is also a much briefer account of the ceremony in Eddowes’s Journal, 29th October 1879, page 9.
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