Businessman's £50,000 boost to historic church appeal
An appeal to save an historic church in urgent need of repair has received a £50,000 boost from a prominent businessman who visited as a child.
John Osborn, former chief executive of the Alexon fashion group, pledged to match any donations to the £200,000 appeal to save St Mary's Church in Shrewsbury, up to a maximum of £50,000.
Herefordshire-based Mr Osborn said he had happy childhood memories of St Mary's, where his uncle George Tiller was a churchwarden.
As child growing up in Birmingham, he would be sent on a Midland Red bus during school holidays to stay with his aunt and uncle, which left him with a great fondness for the town and the church in particular.
But he added that aside from his personal link, he also believed it was the most important church in the town.
"The nave, with its spacious aisles and beautiful roof, coupled with its exceptional collection of late medieval European glass makes it a church of national importance,” he said.
The Churches Conservation Trust, which maintains St Mary’s, last year launched a £200,000 appeal to secure the future of the 900-year-old building. In recent years it has been targeted by thieves who smashed the medieval stained-glass windows.
Judith Patrick, head of the trust's northern region, said the spire of St Mary’s had dominated the skyline of Shrewsbury for centuries.
Over the past few months work had begun to address the most urgent repair needs, although further repair and conservation work is needed to the ancient stained glass.
In October last year the church received a grant from the Heritage Stimulus Fund for repairs to the roof and lead replacement. However this only covers part of the work needed, with up to £250,000 needed to conserve the stained glass.
Donations can be made through the website visitchurches.org.uk/shrewsbury
