The little Church of St. Mary the Virgin is located in the village of Edstaston, north of Wem. It is said by many to be one of the finest churches in the county, despite its small proportions.
The church is over 850 years old and dates back to the Normans. Original stonework features remain from this time, with some beautiful arches around the main door. Inside the church itself can be seen the remains of 13th-15th century wall paintings, which have been carefully restored. Although the church dates back to Norman times, it did not attain parish status until 1850. It had spent much its life as a humble chapel, yet is rich in beauty.
Alongside these fantastic features is this tiny church's other claim to fame - a link with the author and playwright, George Bernard Shaw. He was married to Charlotte Payne-Townshend, whose family (of Irish descent like Shaw) lived in the nearby Edstaston House. They often visited her family and GBS, although agnostic, always attended the church in Edstaston when in the area. His favoured wear in the country was a Norfolk jacket, knee breeches, woollen stockings and heavy shoes. There are still people in the area who remember Shaw walking the lanes. Shaw even named the character, Captain Edstaston, in his play 'Great Catherine' after the village.