Sacred to the Memory Of the VENERABLE HUGH OWEN, M.A. F.R.S. Archdeacon of Salop, Prebendary of Salisbury and Lichfield, One of the Portionists of Bampton, Oxfordshire, Formerly Minister of this Parish, and afterwards of St. Mary, in Shrewsbury. He was the only son of Pryce Owen, M.D. and Bridget his wife, And the lineal descendant of an Ancient British family. Distinguished for the extent and accuracy of his Antiquarian researches, And knowledge of the principles of Ecclesiastical and Civil Architecture, By the judicious application of this talent, Joined to a firm but mild execution of his official authority, He greatly contributed to the decent and substantial restoration Of many venerable fabrics within his Archdeaconry. His “Account of the Ancient and Present State of Shrewsbury,” Originally published in a single volume, Was afterwards embodied in a complete History written by him, In conjunction with the Rev. John Brickdale Blakeway. He died Dec. 23d, 1827, aged 67 years. Harriet, his wife, daughter of Edward Jeffreys, Esq. Died April 3d, 1825, aged 59 years. In the south aisle, a plain tablet surmounted by a lion commemorates the public spirit and unremitting exertions of Mr. ROBERT LAWRENCE, “in opening the great road through Wales between the united kingdoms, and for establishing the first mail coach to this town.” He died Sept. 3d, 1806, aged 57 years. The living is a perpetual curacy in the presentation of the Right Hon. the Earl of Tankerville, and the parish comprehends the Wyle Cop and the suburb of Coleham, but isolated districts of it are intermixed with several of the other parishes at different ends of the town. A Sunday evening lecture was commenced at this church, April 20th, 1828, for the “free accommodation of the town at large,” the parishioners having consented to lend their pews for the occasion. Several of the clergy connected with the town preach alternately at this additional service. THE PARISH OF ST. MICHAEL WITHIN THE CASTLE. It has been already stated (page 24) that the royal free chapel of St. Juliana became at an early period appurtenant to the church of St. Michael, the situation of which it has been shown was within the castle. It is uncertain whether a church existed here anterior to the Norman conquest; however, in the survey called Domesday-book, compiled in 1085, the churches of Shrewsbury are mentioned in the following order, and their possessions enumerated: viz. St. Mary, St. Michael, St. Chad, St. Alkmund, and St. Julian. And of St. Michael these particulars are given: