Architectural Features
MATERIALS: Sandstone rubble, laid as regular courses to the C18 and C19 work, with freestone dressings, tile roofs.
PLAN: Nave with aisles incorporating organ chamber, chapel and family pew, west tower incorporating porch, lower chancel, EXTERIOR: The chancel retains 2 small round-headed C12 south windows, one of them blocked, and 3-light Decorated east window.
The C14 style chancel arch has an inner order on corbels.
The polygonal wooden pulpit has 3 tiers of fielded panels.
C17 panels are re-used for the chancel dado and the reading desk.
The white-marble chapel reredos depicts the 3 Maries at the tomb, by J.E. Boehm Pews, including the elevated family pew, have ends with blind arcading in C17 style.
Above the tower arch is a Victorian Royal arms.
There are several wall monuments.
The monument to Sir John Weld is attributed to William Stanton, and is framed by Corinthian columns and pediment with achievement.
In the chancel the monument to George Weld is by Roger Eykyn of Wolverhampton, a panel surmounted by a sarcophagus and bracketed pediment.
There are also 3 hatchments.
In the porch is a figure of St John the Evangelist in a niche, above an inscription recording the restoration of 1880.
The chancel and the west end of the nave are C12.
There had been a Weld family chapel in the C17, replaced by 1821 when Cecil Weld-Forester was created the first Lord Forester, then replaced again when aisles, and family pew and chapel were built in 1880 by Sir Arthur Blomfield , at the expense of Lady Forester.
SOURCES: J. Newman and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Shropshire, 2006, p 703.
Rev. L.F Peltor, `The Parishes of Willey and Barrow, Shropshire' REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St John, Willey, is listed at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * It retains early fabric of a C12 estate church. * It has an early C18 tower retaining original character. * It has interior features of special interest, including monuments of C17 and C18, and C17 woodwork. * Enlargement of 1880 includes well-preserved family pew and memorial chapel. * Its intimate connection with Willey Hall and it successive owners is reflected in a sequence of monuments and fixtures.