The length of the building from east to west is 160 feet, breadth (including side aisles) 50 feet. The tower contains a peal of ten bells, the harmony of which, it is considered, cannot be excelled by that of any peal in the kingdom: weight of tenor 21 cwt. 2 qrs. 17 lbs. On the west wall of the steeple is an inscription to the memory of Thomas Cadman, who lost his life in a bold attempt to descend from the top of the spire by means of a rope, which he had fixed to it and brought down to the Gay meadow, on the other side of the river Severn. He fell near the Water-lane gate, Feb. 2, 1739, aged 28, at a time when “the ground was iron and the Severn glass,” owing, as the epitaph records, to “A faulty cord being drawn too tight.” The parish of Saint Mary extends several miles in detached parts of the country, having within its boundaries five chapels of ease, viz. Albrighton, Astley, Berwick, Clive, and St. Michael’s (Castle-foregate). The church is a royal peculiar, and the official court has probate of all wills and cognizance of all other ecclesiastical matters arising within the parish. The living is a perpetual curacy, and was, previous to the late municipal act, in the presentation of the Corporation of Shrewsbury; and in the choice of a minister, the son of a burgess, who has been educated at the royal free grammar school, or (in case there be no burgess’s son of that description) one born in the parish of Chirbury, with a qualification similar to the foregoing, is to have the preference. SAINT ALKMUND’S CHURCH is situate at a short distance from St. Mary’s, and its cemetery adjoins that of St. Julian’s. The fine old cruciform church of this parish was inconsiderately destroyed in 1794, under a mistaken apprehension of its stability. The present building, with the exception of the tower and spire, which fortunately escaped the fate of the old church, was opened for divine service Nov. 8, 1795, at a cost of rather more than £3000. The new structure is of Grinshill stone, and in the style called modern gothic, having six lofty pointed windows on each side, filled with slender mullions of cast-iron; between the windows are graduated buttresses. The interior is handsomely fitted up, and the general effect pleasing, although not in strict conformity with a gothic building,—wanting that sombre grandeur characteristic of this style of architecture. It is 82 feet long by 44 feet wide, with a small chancel terminated by a pointed window filled with enamelled glass emblematical of “EVANGELICAL FAITH,” depicted in the character of a female figure in the attitude of kneeling upon a cross, with her arms extended, and eyes elevated towards a celestial crown which appears in the opening clouds. The countenance has an interesting expression of adoration, and the motto, “Be thou faithful unto death,” &c. is inscribed on an open volume. The window was painted by the elder Egginton, and cost 200 guineas.