St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter, Shropshire

Details

Accessibility

• Road-side parking is available adjacent and near to St. Andrew's Churchyard. .
• Access from the road to the Church is via a sloping grass path through the churchyard.
• There is step-access to the church porch and entrance/exit door.
• Inside the Church, there is two-steps access to/from the Chancel and Altar. 
• Floors are uneven and worn  so may also be slippery in a number of areas inside the Church; the floors are a mixture of stone flags, some tiled areas and some made of brick work. 
• Some areas inside the Church have lower light levels. 

Brief description

A fascinating, 'Grade 1' listed Church dating back to Anglo-Saxon times - built on the site of the ancient Roman town of Viroconium, today the location of the village of Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury. Viroconium was the fourth largest Roman town in Britain in the first Century A.D. and has been the subject of the Channel 4 TV Series :http://www.channel4.com/programmes/rome-wasnt-built-in-a-day 

St. Andrew's construction included Roman stonework from the ruins of Virconium used to build the church walls, Roman pillars used for the churchyard gateway and an inverted Roman column base used for the Church Font.

St. Andrew's has seen much renovation and refurbishment work over the centuries, which are reflected in its architecture and internal features -  including from the Saxon, Norman, Tudor and Stuart, Georgian and Victorian periods. In addition to the architecture which incorporates Roman stonework and pillars, other very interesting features include: 

• Part of a 9th-century Anglo-Saxon cross shaft built into the top of a wall,
•  Three magnificent, Medieval, Alabaster 'Tomb Chests'; these are decorated with  beautiful, life-size, commemorative, carved figures. 
• Large, Medieval Parish Chest. 
• Several Tudor and Stuart artefacts - including a number of box pews, the choir stalls, communion rail, the pulpit and reading desk. 
• The Eighteenth century West Gallery (altered in 1870).
• A Nineteenth century Church Organ built by C. Brindley. 
• Beautiful Victorian, stained glass windows - including by Morris & Company and by the artist E. Ballie. 

St. Andrew's Church, Wroxeter ceased to be used for Worship in 1980, but is open to visitors. It is now owned and maintained by the 'Churches Conservation Trust' . 

The Roman ruins of Viroconium in Wroxeter  are now an 'English Heritage' site and can also be visited - Link:  Wroxeter Roman City | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)

For further information see: 

• CHURCH OF ST ANDREW, Wroxeter and Uppington - 1224008 | Historic England
• St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter, Shropshire | The Churches Conservation Trust (visitchurches.org.uk)
• St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter - Wikipedia
• Wroxeter St Andrew | Explore Churches

Email

 Link at: Contact Us | The Churches Conservation Trust (visitchurches.org.uk)

Phone

For enquiries - contact the Churches Conservation Trust - telephone : 0845 303 2760 (Mon - Fri. 0900-1700 hours).

Website

St Andrew's Church, Wroxeter, Shropshire | The Churches Conservation Trust (visitchurches.org.uk)

Directions

4 miles south east of Shrewsbury on B4380 Shrewsbury to Ironbridge road. Follow the brown 'St. Andrew's Church' tourism sign off B4380, access road past English Heritage Roman town site; church in village past Wroxeter Hotel

Opening Times

St. Andrew's is usually open daily (Please check with the venue directly for up-to-date information on opening times as they may be subject to change).

Admission free - donations are welcome.

Transport

By Rail:  Nearest railway station: Shrewsbury (4 miles). The Station has step-free access to all platforms - there is lift access available to platforms 3 - 7 inclusive (The lift to Platform 3 is accessible from the front of the station. The lift to Platforms 4 to 7 is situated at the end of the subway beyond the ticket barriers). The station is manned daily during opening hours  with the following facilities available:

• Ladies, Gents and Disabled toilets - the disabled toilets (accessible by national 'Radar key') are located on platform 4A. 
• Refreshment facilities
• Wheelchairs 
• Car Park 

No waiting room and no baby-changing facilities are available. A taxi rank is available outside the Station.

By Bus: 

Take bus service no. 19 (Shrewsbury - Wroxeter Roman Town. Nearest bus stop to Shrewsbury Railway Station : St. Mary's Church. Alight for St. Andrew's Church at bus stop in: Wroxeter village. 

Amenities

• Tea/coffee & picnic facilities are available at nearby Wroxeter Roman City (English Heritage site). (Note! There is a charge to enter this English Heritage Site.)  This site also has toilet facilities (including accessible toilets) and Baby-Changing facilities available to customers-only. 
•  Hotel and Bed and Breakfast Accommodation, refreshment and toilet facilities (for customers-use) are available next door to St. Andrew's Church at : The Wroxeter Hotel. (The Wroxeter Hotel offers accessible, adapted accommodation and toilet facilities for its disabled guests-see the Hotel website for  details.) There is a variety of other refreshment and accommodation facilities in Shrewsbury and the Wroxeter area..
• There are public toilet facilities including accessible toilets in Shrewsbury. 
•  Visitor accommodation is also offered by the Churches Conservation Trust as a' Champing Experience' in  the church of St. Andrew'si itself! - for details and to book see: Champing™ - The simple concept of camping in ancient churches.  Please note this is very simple accommodation with limited personal facilities and heating. Please check if these are accessible and sufficient with https://champing.co.uk/  prior to booking.