The first Anglican place of worship in Welsh Frankton was opened on November 30th 1835 and was dedicated to St Andrew, whose feast day it was. It was on the site now occupied by Border Trailers. At that time Welsh Frankton was part of the parish of Whittington and it was the Rector, the Rev’d CAA Lloyd, who was responsible for the building of the new Chapel. It was actually an extension to an existing Schoolroom. Large folding doors were opened to allow the Chapel and the schoolroom to be used together for services. It must have been a very plain, basic building for it was known locally as ‘the consecrated cowshed’ or ‘the Bottle Chapel’, a reference to the old inn nearby.
Plans were drawn by the architect, Mr Edward Haycock of Shrewsbury and the foundation stone was laid by Mrs Wright of Halston Hall, near Whittington, on Tuesday April 28th 1857. the builder, Mr Cartwright of Welsh Frankton (who also built Shrewsbury Station) set to work and the new Church was consecrated for worship on Thursday August 3rd 1858, by the Bishop of St Asaph. The service was so well attended that there were more people outside in the churchyard than in the congregation. Afterwards there was a ‘handsome luncheon’ served at the Whittington schoolroom. The total cost of building the Church, the Churchyard wall and the Lych gate was less than £2000. The Church is built in Victorian Gothic style in Cefn stone with Shelvoke red stone introduced at various points, for example in the entrance arch, Chancel arch and windows. Originally it had a tower only; the spire was completed in 1863. The Vestry was added in 1871 and enlarged in 1898 with money from a legacy left to the Church by Miss Mary Jemima Oswell, whose family are remembered on the brass plaque in the centre of the south wall, to the right of the aisle.
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