St Giles' Church, Barrow

St Giles' was originally built as a chapel to Wenlock Abbey. The date of origin of its chancel is uncertain; it has been suggested that this was as early as the 8th century, but it is more likely that it originated in the 11th century. The Norman nave dates from about 1100, and probably replaced an earlier timber nave. The lower parts of the tower date from later in the 12th century. A brick south porch was built in 1705, and the brick top stage of the tower and its pyramidal roof were added during the 18th century. The church was restored in 1851–52 by G. E. Street. In 1894–95 Ewan Christian built the north chapel to replace a chapel dating from 1688, and also rebuilt the east wall of the…

The chancel arch is Anglo-Saxon in origin, but it was altered during Street's restoration. The tower arch consists of the original Norman west doorway of the nave before the tower was built. Its tympanum, now seen from within the tower, is decorated with three tiers of saltire crosses in squares. The font consists of a plain tub on a cylindrical stem, and probably dates from the 12th century. The timber pulpit is in the shape of a drum, and is decorated with traceried panels. Also in the church is a poor box dating from about 1690 that is mounted in a later stem. The wall monuments date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.