Talk:Tilley, Shropshire

Church in Tilley?

Despite the wealth of medieval and post-medieval timber-framed buildings, Tilley does not possess a church. However, it is probable that such a building may have existed somewhere within the centre of the village, probably close to the manor house.

I have raised a citation need against what, from my own awareness of Shropshire local history, seems an uninformed and speculative comment without any cited published source. There are many communities without church buildings that have houses as ancient as that in Tilley. That they have lasted so long is a testament to the prosperity of the occupants in the centuries they were built. Tilley was part of the parish of Wem which is not far and the close location may have made building its own church needless. I suggest histories of Wem are best consulted for information about Tilley. The Wem parish area has been subject of a volume produced this century of the Victoria County History of Shropshire, and the 18th century Wem schoolmaster and clergyman Samuel Garbet has left a posthumously published History of Wem, although I don't recall reading what he mentioned about Tilley. Tilley was never a parish in its own right which would have justified a church. The founding of churches was traditionally decided between manorial landowners and the local bishops, which in Wem's case has always been at Lichfield.Cloptonson (talk) 08:34, 3 September 2021 (UTC)