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Comment: more citations needed; citation cleanup needed Snowman304|talk 04:59, 22 October 2024 (UTC)
| Church of the 318 Holy Fathers | |
|---|---|
 The Church of the 318 Holy Fathers as seen from the southwest | |
 | |
| 52°41′23″N 2°44′14″W / 52.68972°N 2.73722°W | |
| Location | Shrewsbury, England |
| Address | Dove Close, Shrewsbury, SY2 6FB |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Greek Orthodox |
| Website | www.shrewsburyorthodox.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | The 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council |
| Other dedication | The Holy Prophet and Forerunner John the Baptist |
| Consecrated | 6 July 1997 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1969.[1] |
| Architectural type | Early English |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain |
| Clergy | |
| Archbishop | Archbishop Nikitas |
| Priest in charge | Protopresbyter Stephen Maxfield |
| Assistant priest(s) | Presbyter Panteleimon Maxfield |
The Church of the 318 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, commonly known as the Church of the 318 Holy Fathers, is a Greek Orthodox church in Sutton, a suburb of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. Originally built as a medieval chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the church has a rich history dating back to the 13th century and possibly earlier. It is now a Grade II* listed building[2].
History
editAncient origins
editArchaeological excavations in 2016-2017 revealed that the site has been a place of worship for approximately 4,000 years[3]. Evidence of a Bronze Age or possibly Neolithic ritual enclosure was discovered, including wooden posts carbon-dated to 2033 BC[4]. The site is considered a rare example of a Christianised pagan site in Britain.
Medieval period
editThe earliest parts of the current structure date from around 1200 AD, built in the Early English style. However, the foundations are believed to be much older, possibly Saxon or even Romano-British in origin[5]. The church was originally much larger, extending further to the west, east, and possibly north.
The Manor of Sutton, where the church is located, is mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to Wenlock Abbey[6]. The church, then known as the Church of Saint John the Baptist, is first referenced in an Inquisition of 1278[7].
Post-medieval changes
editIn the 17th century, the western end of the church was demolished, reducing its size. The current brick west wall dates from the early 18th century. By the 19th century, the church had fallen into disuse, though it continued to be used occasionally for burials and special events until 1887, when the living became attached to Meole Brace[5].
Rediscovery and restoration
editIn 1991, the Greek Orthodox Church discovered the semi-ruinous chapel. They purchased it from the Church of England for £50 in 1994 and began immediate restoration work. With the help of English Heritage funds, the church was fully restored by 1996 and consecrated as the Church of the 318 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea on 6-7 July 1997. This new dedication refers to the bishops who attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
Architecture and features
edit
The church is primarily constructed of sandstone rubble with some brickwork. It features:
- Three walls of medieval Early English style (c. 1200 AD)
- A west wall of early 18th-century brick
- Lancet windows
- Medieval wall paintings dating from about 1380, including a depiction of the martyrdom of Thomas Becket[8]
- A Tudor roof truss from the 16th century[8]
- A Saxon tub font, believed to be the oldest object in the church
- Modern additions, including an oak iconostasis and a stone holy table made by Aidan Hart, and a gallery
The church measures approximately 10.70m x 7.50m[5].
Archaeological significance
editThe 2016-2017 excavations revealed:
- Evidence of the church's original larger size, extending 18 meters further west than the current building[4]
- Foundations of possible additional structures to the north, south, and east[4]
- A Bronze Age ritual enclosure
- Possible connections to nearby Bronze Age barrows, cursus, and standing stone pits
These findings suggest that the site has been a place of worship for approximately 4,000 years, making it an exceptionally important archaeological site[4]
Previous archaeological investigations in the area have revealed:
Present use
edit
The church continues to serve as an active Greek Orthodox place of worship. It has been adapted for Orthodox Byzantine worship with the addition of an iconostasis, new icons, and wall paintings. The congregation has grown consistently since the church's restoration, leading to plans for expansion to accommodate the increased number of worshippers.
References
edit- ^ "Former Church of St John". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Historic England. "Former Church of St John". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Ward, Victoria (18 May 2017). "Shropshire church found to be UK's oldest sacred site still in use". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Green, Janey (January 2018). Watching Brief and Excavation at The Church of The Holy Fathers of Nicea, formerly known as The Church of St. John (PDF). Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Edwards, Emily (2010). The Church of the Holy Fathers (Formerly St John's), Sutton Shrewsbury Archaeological Desk Based Assessment (PDF). Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Williams, Dr. Ann and Martin, Professor G.H (2002). Domesday Book, A Complete Translation. Penguin. p. 680. ISBN 0141005238.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Morris, J (1915). "Sutton, near Shrewsbury" (PDF). Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. 38: 144. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Shropshire HER - Results". Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
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