St Mary - Madeley

Introduction

Joseph Aloysius Hansom designed the church in 1852-3. The foundation stone was laid on 21 April 1852.

History

The church was opened on 18 August 1853. The church dates from the period of expansion following the Restoration of the Hierarchy in 1850. The church was intended to seat 500 and had a wide nave with full-length aisles. In 1849 Father W Molloy led efforts to build a new and larger church. The church underwent major renovation work to counter the effects of 150 years of weather.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is built of shaped, coursed stone with a steep, tiled roof. The church has a five-bay nave with sanctuary in the easternmost bay. The east end has a tall pointed chancel arch blocked with roughly-coursed rubblestone. The west end has a very tall archway between two slightly-projecting buttresses, with a circular window with quatrefoil tracery.

The interior has ashlar stone nave arcades with pointed arches and alternating circular and octagonal columns. The aisle corbels support carved timber angels originally from the chapel of Cheadle Royal mental asylum in Cheshire. The organ at the west end of the nave has an ornate wooden case and painted pipes, acquired from a local Methodist church at an unknown date. Hung against the blocked chancel arch is a carved timber crucifix perhaps German in origin. At the east end of the south aisle is a pointed arch niche with a moulded stone frame with trefoil head and hoodmould, in front of which stands a painted plaster statue of Our Lady and the baby Jesus.

Music and liturgy

The Upper Room has been re-ordered as a chapel for occasional use for Mass and Services of Word and Holy Communion. The Upper Room incorporates the tabernacle and chairs from All Saints, Stirchley and the altar and crucifix from Saint Winefride's, Broseley.

Parish life

The SVP is an international, voluntary, Christian organisation serving those in need regardless of their beliefs. The parish SVP Conference offers help to anyone who is lonely, bereaved, in need of emergency financial help, or needing a listening ear. The SVP provides financial support to two SVP Conferences in poorer parts of India and has taken on a project to build a house for a needy family in India.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The SVP Conference of the Parish of the Good Shepherd provides a space to meet and chat in the Lower Room of Saint Mary's Presbytery. The SVP space is staffed by SVP members and parish volunteers.