The current church building, which overlooks Burton's market square, was begun in 1719, first used for services in 1723, and finally completed by 1728. It is built in red sandstone and comprises an aisled five-bay
nave with galleries on the north, west, and south, an
apse, and a western
narthex with central tower, north and south gallery stairs, and internal porch. Designed in a Classical style by the brothers Richard and
William Smith of
Tettenhall, it is similar to
St Alkmund's Church at
Whitchurch, Shropshire, built by William to the designs of John Barker. William died in 1724 and Richard in 1726, and the church was completed by their younger brother
Francis Smith of Warwick. In the 1730s
Richard Wilkes, a Staffordshire
antiquary, described the church as 'elegant and beautiful', giving 'pleasure to all that behold or enter it'. The west tower is of three stages and has a
balustrade with urns and round windows with radial glazing bars. The apse has wide
Doric pilasters at the opening and between the windows. The nave arcades have tall Doric piers without an
entablature, the flat ceiling has a deep cove, and the nave galleries cut across the high, arched windows of the aisles. The church is
Grade I listed and contains a 15th-century
font, an organ case built in 1771 for an organ made by
John Snetzler and a monument to Lady Fowler by Sir
Richard Westmacott of 1825. Anthony Greatorex was the organist at St Modwen's from 1771 and was succeeded as organist by his son, the composer
Thomas Greatorex. His son, Thomas the younger, went on to be organist at Holy Trinity, Burton upon Trent. Regular service are on Sunday mornings at 11 am: Holy Communion (first and third Sundays) and Matins (second and fourth); and Wednesdays at 1045: Holy Communion (1662). The church is open most Saturdays between 1000 and 1200 when refreshments are available. The vicar is also vicar of
St Paul's and St Aidan's. ==See also==