England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Withington St John the Baptist

The Parish

The parish of Withington lies in central Shropshire about six miles east of Shropshire's capital Shrewsbury Withington is located in lanes about a mile north of the A5 road which links Shrewsbury through to London. There is a distinct pattern to the properties of Withington with three northern lanes forming the prongs of a "W" shape with the main lane leading through from west to east. Withington sits on a broad plain to the west of the River Roden, this is a tributary of the Tern and thence the River Severn which finally drains away though the Bristol Channel many miles to the south. Withington's principal means of earning a living was through pastoral farming, there being many small hedged fields around the village. Withington is sited at around 50 metres above the sea although lands rises gently to the north to twice that height. Withington parish was only created in 1738 previously the church was a chapelry of the much larger neighbour Upton Magna. The parish thus created was relatively small at only 1,100 acres it would have supported just over 200 parishioners. In Domesday times the land was held by one Earl Roger of Shrewsbury and could only boast a mere 3 ploughs.

The Church

St John the Baptist's church is tucked away out of sight from the main lane through the village, a narrow track leads south next to the Hare & Hounds public house. The church is not one of Shropshire's mediaeval buildings, the original church was replaced in 1870 by a new building. The chosen style, in a very distinctive local sandstone, is the classic nave, chancel and western tower with a pseudo-13th century motif. Pevsner offers no great comment as to the building's architecture although he does comment that the 4-stage tower is "strong". The church is approached down the access track of Church Farm, access is at the north of the site where a footpath leads to the church. Although rather well-screened the churchyards, itself, is open and photography is not restricted.