St Chad's Church, Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury’s St Chad’s Church (the ‘new’ one, rather than the old) is a delightful, late Georgian building which was started in 1790. It has several curious features such as the ‘gravestone’ of Ebenezer Scrooge, a leftover prop from the 1984 A Christmas Carol film, as well as being the place at which a young Charles Darwin was baptised -and much good it did him.

The church is chiefly notable, however, for its round shape, which is unusual for the United Kingdom. The architect, George Steuart, duly submitted his plans for a circular nave which the organising committee did not bother to inspect. Upon realisation, they demanded a more typical, rectangular structure, but Steuart refused until they paid him an additional fee seeing as they were putting him twice to work. After various delays, the committee gave in, and the original plan proceeded. Shrewsbury has a more elegant and notable church as a result. The construction was partly overseen by the great local engineer, Thomas Telford.

A more diligent committee would have objected sooner, interfered quicker and overruled with greater strength. Their laziness and lack of diligence turned out, in my opinion, to be for the best. Perhaps this is why our wise God does not share His plans for us. Although we know our final destination, our present comings and goings He keeps to Himself. We do not know what tomorrow will bring, much less the following weeks, months and years. Were He to share it and submit such things for our consideration or approval, we would only form committees and raise objections; why could He not do this, or should he not rather do that? It is better to trust the Architect, and let Him determine the shape, size and nature of our earthly experience. His designs are always better and more beautiful than anything our brains, ambitions or committees could envision and dictate.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV