which was demolished in the reign of Edw. VI. by Sir John Gate, who, says Bp. Goodwin, as a just reward for his sacrilege soon after lost his head[1]; and this supposition gains strength when the building itself is found to be entirely in accordance with the architectural style of the time. Nothing seems more natural than that a prelate of such wealth, countenanced as he was by the royal favour, and attached to his birth-place by those natural ties so universally operating on the affections of men, though impelled as a few may perchance have been, by the ambition of making their names famous in future story, or incited as the greater part were by the charitable desire of extending the benefits of that faith that had been their own solace, nothing seems more natural than that he should have bequeathed to the spot of his nativity some lasting memorial of his regard: it appears more than probable when the style of architecture is viewed in comparison with other specimens of the age, and when it is known that the adjacent castellated mansion and some churches were erected by Robert Burnell, that this also is a monument of his devotion.
Unfortunately the geological nature of this part of England is very unfavourable for producing building stone, and consequently the churches throughout Shropshire, from being constructed with sandstone, are in a state of great decay. The present one forms however an exception, and has withstood the effects of the atmosphere better than any other built with the same material that I am acquainted with.
It is a beautiful specimen of the transition between the Early English and Decorated styles, built in the form of a cross, but without any central tower, there being no western, arch to the cross; nor does it appear to have had any tower except the small wooden belfry now occupying the point of intersection. It has no aisles, and the porch, which has a niche over the doorway, is on the north side. The eastern window is a fine one of four trefoil-headed lights, with plain circles in their heads arranged after the usual manner of Early Decorated windows with geometrical tracery. The west window has three pointed lights without foliation, the central one being carried up to the point of the arch, and the spandrels being pierced. The transept front windows are of three lights with circles in the heads. All the other win-
- ↑ Britton's Wells, p. 37.
