The Building of St Marks Church, Great Wyrley.
When the question of building a church arose, the inhabitants could not decide whether the site should be in Great Wyrley or Cheslyn Hay. Edward, the first Lord Hatherton took a leading part in the affairs. Lord Hatherton and Mr Gilpin decided to talk to Reverend Smith, the vicar of Cannock, and Mr Sant who had both made generous offers toward the building of St Marks Church, and after much persuasion a new site was chosen. When it came to raising the money, Lord Hatherton said “the farmers and the poor people behaved magnificently,” also remarking that it was the growth of Gilpin Iron Works that had caused the need for the new church. Lord Hatherton gave £100, and his mother another £100, aswell as his unmarried sisters gave like amounts
In 1840 the Reverend William Gresley, a Prebendary of Lichfield undertook to give £1,425, and material gifts, conditional on the then Vicar of Cannock, the Reverend E T Blackburn’s, finding another £800. Two societies between them subscribed £683 and the land for the building was given by Mr Thomas Bettson, gentleman of Great Wyrley. The building cost £2,800.
The foundation stone was laid April 23rd 1844 and the new church at Great Wyrley was opened and consecrated on July 22nd 1845. The first baptism took place on the same day and was Ann, daughter of John and Hannah Evans, a cordwainer (shoemaker)
Taken from The Bygone Days of Cheslyn Hay, by Roland Ridgway.
Thomas Johnson – Architect, designed St Mark’s, the stone church in Early English style, as well as its vicarage and an adjacent school. St Mark’s was the first church to have a South Asian vicar of any Church of England parish, Shapurji Adalji. He was vicar of the parish of St. Mark’s from 1876 to 1918. His son is well known for being falsely convicted on a charge of injuring a pony, and cleared after the intervention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Edalji senior died at the vicarage in 1918 and is buried in the churchyard.
On Saturday 19th July 2025 St Mark’s will be celebrating 180 years
Holy Communion at St Mark’s is on the first Sunday of each month.
Mid-week Holy Communion – Every Wednesday at 10am – 10:45
Station Road, Great Wyrley, Walsall, WS6 6LJ
2025 vicar – Reverend Marie Meredith – Vicar of Great Wyrley. Prior to taking this post, she enjoyed her career in education and curate of St Luke’s Church, Cannock. As part of her work in the community, she enjoys being part of school life by sharing in collective worship and spending time in school in her role as a Foundation Governor.