ShropshireGREATBOLASStJohnBaptist(iansCC-BY-SA2.0)1 IanS

St John the Baptist

Enjoy our Grade II* listed church which is one of only a handful with a full set of 18th century box pews and a famous story of a bigamous marriage!

Great Bolas, Shropshire

Opening times

Our church is open daily from 9am to 4pm, managed by a rota of local people on a best endeavours basis.
There is one step leading into the church, but we have a portable ramp to help you into our church. If you would like access to our registers, please contact the churchwarden Ray Hughes by email ray-hughes@outlook.com

Address

Great Bolas
Shropshire
TF6 6PQ

A church has existed in Great Bolas as early as the 13th century when, from the early registry transcribed by Revd WGD Fletcher, the incumbent on November 10th, 1306 was Alan de Newton.

Today, no part of the mediaeval building remains, except possibly two stones in the east window behind the altar. The chancel was built in 1690, the existing nave was demolished in 1727 and a replacement was finished the following year and reopened on 23 June 1728. At the time of writing we are only six years away from our church's 300 year old birthday!

The tower was added in 1730. The contents of the church have altered little since 1729 and retains the dignity and simplicity of the original work. The Nave has a complete set of 18th century panel box pews. The squires pew, situated in front of the pulpit, use to have a balustrade but has been cut down. The pulpit is a 18th century fielded panel pulpit with a tester (canopy). The chancel has four choir stalls made of oak (believed to be 17th century). Three are freestanding and 1 attached to the chancel wall. There are also two freestanding Victorian pine book rests. The choir pews are simply constructed from thick sections of timber and are incongruous with the other fixed pews in the Nave. The detailing would suggest that some of the panels have been salvaged from other timber structures and repurposed. The origin is unknown.

The church has a fine collection of records. The parish registers date back to 1582; the Churchwardens Accounts start in 1699 and those of the overseers of the poor in 1698. This means that there is a continuous record of the people of Great Bolas and the work of the parish officers from the reign of William and Mary up to the present day.

A notable document is the wedding certificate of Sarah Hoggins and John Jones dated 1790 which recorded their bigamist marriage. John Jones was already married, he was Lord Burleigh, the son and heir to the Marquis of Exeter. He did eventually marry Sarah legally on 3 October 1791, after divorcing his first wife. ‘Mr Jones’ built Bolas Villa and left it to his godson, Cresswell Tayleur, son of the Curate of Bolas who conducted the first marriage.

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Social heritage stories

  • Wildlife haven

  • Bus stop within 100m

  • Dog friendly

  • Level access throughout

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Parking within 250m

  • Ramp or level access available on request

  • Steps to enter the church or churchyard

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Coffee Mornings take place every fortnight dates are available on our A Church Near You (ACNY) website.

  • In adition, a very friendly Friends Group regularly hold fund raising events at our church (and the surrounding area), throughout the year : again, details can be found on the ACNY website.

  • We have an active History Society and have recently recorded the names of evryone who has been buried in our churchyard since the late 1500s. We are currently copying the Parish Registers into a digital format.

  • Church of England

  • Cornerstone Grant, £10,000, 2022

  • Our Cornerstone Grants fund urgent repairs and essential community facilities such as toilets and kitchens to help keep churches open.

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Bartholomew

Moreton Corbet, Shropshire

Deliciously decorated church, full of Corbet history, to visit at the same time as visiting adjacent Moreton Corbet Castle

St Mary the Virgin

Shawbury, Shropshire

This Norman church dates back to 1182 and still has some original features.