St Alkmund's Square,
SY1 1UH Open Sunday 9am to 1pm and Saturday 12.30-3pm
Viewing at other times email: info@shrewsburyorthodox.com
Disabled access from the rear entrance.
Parking, town car parks.
WC, including disabled.
St Julian's church is one of the four Saxon foundations in Shrewsbury. The tower dates from the 12th century whereas the present nave was designed by Thomas Farnolls Pritchard who also designed the Iron Bridge at Telford. Pritchard was born in Shrewsbury and baptised in St Julian's Church on 11 May 1723. His rebuilding of the nave and chancel, at the tender age of 25, included a gallery supported by Tuscan columns. The gallery was removed but the elegant columns remain. The stained glass is excellent, especially the east window by David Evans, 'one of his finest works', according to John Leonard. It shows scenes from the life and death of Christ, including a copy of Raphael's 'Transfiguration'. In the south window of the chancel is the figure of St James, early 16th century glass from Rouen, bought in London for £30 during the French Revolution.
St Julians was closed for worship in 1976 and is now privately owned. It was a craft centre for 20 years, and is now used by the thriving Orthodox church on Sundays.
The Orthodox Church started worshipping here on Sundays in 2023 and have a regular schedule of services.
Check their website for services and opening times: (The History section of the website below refers to the Orthodox church in Dove Close, Sutton, Shrewsbury, which is used by the Orthodox church on weekdays, also a member of SCTG, see Shrewsbury Orthodox)
Photos by AP. Left: looking east. Right: Looking west. Note the bells in the ancient tower.
https://www.shrewsburyorthodox.com
ETERNAL LIGHT: AN EXHIBITION OF HOLY ICONS
A rare exhibition of sacred icons by contemporary icon painters of Britain, including works by Aidan Hart -
one of the leading liturgical artists in the Western world
St Julian’s Church, Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury SY1 1UH
Saturday May 24 to Friday June 6
Daytime: Mondays to Saturdays, 11am – 4pm
Evenings: Tuesday May 27 & Thursday June 5, 7pm – 9pm
See over 80 works, both large and small, by 15 contemporary iconographers and artists. Some icons are for sale.
The exhibition is part of the @nicaea2025shrewsbury festival that is taking place this May and June, marking 1700 years since the First Council of Nicaea, a pivotal event in the history of Christianity.
Aidan has icons, frescoes, mosaic and sculpture in churches, cathedrals and private and royal commissions in more than 25 countries of the world. He was also the designer of the Anointing Screen used at the Coronation of King Charles III.
Aidan, who is also an author and international speaker, will be giving a series of talks during the exhibition too (both daytime and evening).
Other exhibitors include the Greek Orthodox nun Sister Theovouli, who has been a painter and teacher of
iconography in Britain for more than 40 years; the international artist Markos Kampanis, who has exhibited
around the world; Tamara Penwell, who has been painting icons for 30 years, and young talents, such as
Joseph Craveiro and the artist, illustrator and wood carver Ewan Craig.