---
title: "St Mary, Acton Burnell"
description: "Located in Acton Burnell, Shropshire. Built 1250–80; tower and restoration 1887–9. Diocese of Hereford. Grade I. Gothic; Gothic Revival tower style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Shropshire","Acton Burnell","Grade I","Gothic","Fairfax B Wade"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-mary-acton-burnell"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:10:17.958Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-09T12:30:02.233Z"
location: "Acton Burnell, Shropshire"
country: "England"
county: "Shropshire"
town: "Acton Burnell"
address: "Old Walls, Acton Burnell, Shropshire, SY5 7PE"
postcode: "SY5 7PE"
built: "1250–80; tower and restoration 1887–9"
architect: "Fairfax B Wade (1887–9 restoration and tower)"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Hereford"
grade: "I"
style: "Gothic; Gothic Revival tower"
materials: "Coursed red and yellow sandstone rubble with red and grey sandstone ashlar dressings; tower of squared coursed yellow sandstone; plain tile roofs"
website: "http://www.unitedbeneficeofcondover.co.uk/"
openingHours: "Keyholder details on church notice board."
parish: "Acton Burnell"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1366700"
gridReference: "SJ 534 019"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# St Mary, Acton Burnell

St Mary is a Grade I parish church beside the ruins of Acton Burnell Castle, Shropshire, in the Diocese of Hereford and the United Benefice of Condover. Historic England dates the church to 1250–80; the tower was added and the building restored in 1887–9.

## Overview

The listing describes coursed red and yellow sandstone rubble with red and grey sandstone ashlar dressings, a tower of squared coursed yellow sandstone, and plain tile roofs. The plan is cruciform, with a north porch and a three-stage tower in the north-east angle under a pyramidal roof. Wikipedia attributes the medieval church to Robert Burnell (d. 1292), whose fortified house stands nearby, and names Fairfax B. Wade as architect of the Victorian restoration.

Monuments include the chest tomb of Sir Nicholas Burnell (d. 1382). The church stands in the village of Acton Burnell, south-east of Shrewsbury, and remains an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Condover.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1366700](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1366700)
- [British Listed Buildings: Church of St Mary](https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101366700-church-of-st-mary-acton-burnell)
- [Wikipedia: St Mary's Church, Acton Burnell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary%27s_Church,_Acton_Burnell)