St Mark's Church, Great Wyrley

St Mark's is the parish church of Great Wyrley, South Staffordshire, England. It is known for having had the first South Asian vicar of any Church of England parish, Shapurji Edalji, and for its association with Edalji's son George, who was falsely convicted on a charge of injuring a pony, and cleared after the intervention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

St Mark's Church
The church in April 2006
52°39′58″N 2°01′25.02″W
LocationGreat Wyrley
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
Websitewww.greatwyrleyparish.org.uk
History
DedicationSt Mark
Consecrated22 July 1845 (1845-07-22)
Architecture
Architect(s)Thomas Johnson
StyleEarly English
Groundbreaking1844
Completed1845
Construction cost£2,800
Administration
ParishGreat Wyrley
DeaneryRugeley
ArchdeaconryLichfield
DioceseDiocese of Lichfield
Clergy
Vicar(s)Revd. Graham Horner

History

The stone church, in early English style,[1] its vicarage and an adjacent school were built in 1845[2] to designs by the architect Thomas Johnson of Lichfield[3] and consecrated on Tuesday 22 July 1845 by John Lonsdale, Bishop of Lichfield.[4]

The church's early baptism, marriage and burial registers are held by Staffordshire Records Office, the Bishops' transcripts at Lichfield Records Office.[5]

The Edaljis

Shapurji Edalji was given the 'living' as vicar of St Mark's by Lonsdale's successor George Selwyn. Edalji obtained the position though the previous incumbent, his wife's uncle, who arranged it as a wedding present. 'Livings' were scarce, conferred valuable emoluments and were much sought after.[6]

Edalji moved into the vicarage, a large house with its own grounds, in late 1875; George, the first child, was born there soon after. The Reverend Edaji was more assertive than his predecessor and was sometimes involved in controversy about parish business.[6]

Edalji senior died at the vicarage in 1918 and is buried in the churchyard.[7]

Current activity

The church and its neighbour, the parish's other CoE church, St Andrew's, Landywood are managed in tandem.[8]

There is a church hall adjacent to the church.[8]

As of March 2015 the vicar is the Revd. Graham Horner.[8]

Organ

The church has a pipe organ by Nicholson dating from 2000, an earlier organ having been damaged by fire. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[9]

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References
  1. White, William (1851). History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire. Sheffield.
  2. "Great Wyrley Local History Society". Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  3. "Consecration of Great Wyrley Church, Staffordshire". Morning Post. London. 26 July 1845. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  4. "Great Wyrley". Coventry Standard. Coventry. 25 July 1845. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  5. "Parish Registers and Bishops' Transcripts" (PDF). Staffordshire County Council. January 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  6. International Commentary on Evidence, Volume 4, Issue 2 2006 Article 3, Boxes in Boxes: Julian Barnes, Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and the Edalji Case, D. Michael Risinger
  7. Oldfield, Roger (2010). 'Outrage: The Edalji Five and the Shadow of Sherlock Holmes. Vanguard Press.
  8. "Great Wyrley Parish". Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  9. "NPOR K00011". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 3 March 2015.


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