Angus and Rosemary's Miscellany
of Malvern - Photo Gallery
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Photogallery > Photos of churches in and around the Malvern HillsNote: this page can also be reached from the History menu and Other Resources, Religion. As you walk around Malvern you may sometimes spot a church tower or spire rising above the rooftops. Here are photos of some of those present and past places of worship. Many of these churches and chapels were built in the Gothic style during the Victorian period when tourism associated with the 'water cure' flourished and churches competed to attract people to their particular style of worship. Some buildings have since closed as places of worship but there probably remain many more buildings than present church goers can realistically support. In churches you will often find Rolls of the Fallen of two World Wars. You will find information about churchyards, and other burial grounds, in and around The Malvern Hills, on another page: Click for information about burial grounds in and near Malvern ContentsChapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion Roll of the Fallen, Hanley Swan Blackmore Park Roman Catholic Church Great MalvernThe Priory Church of St Michael and St Mary, Church Street
The north side of Great Malvern Priory The Priory Church (see photo of north side above) was founded about 1085 as a Benedictine Abbey. Following the dissolution of the monastries by Henry VIII, the towns-people acquired a large part of the building as a new Parish Church to replace St Thomas's, which stood where the Post Office is now situated and was in a bad state of repair. Click for more information about the Priory and its war memorial The Lyttelton Well, Church StreetThe Lyttelton Well Christian Outreach Centre is situated at the entrance to The Priory churchyard. It is not a church as such but serves the spiritual needs of the community in other ways. The bookshop sells religious books and music, the cafe provides tea, cake and snacks, and counselling is available. 
The much older Lyttelton Rooms next door were founded by Lady Lyttelton for the education of the children of the poor and can still be hired for functions. 
The Christadelphian HallIn 1979 the Christadelphians moved into a hall in Abbey Road, 30 yards to the north east of the Abbey gateway (see photo opposite). The Christadelphiands are a Bible based community founded in the USA in 1848. Click to read more about the Malvern Christadelphians (Reference 2 lists many more past and present non-conformist meeting places than are covered in this account.)
Baptist Church, Abbey Road
The Baptist Church, built about 1894, is sited on a steep slope above Park View apartments. The photos show the blue sign at pavement level and a glimpse of the church from half way up the steep drive. There is a hall and limited parking at the top so disabled people can be dropped off.
The Baptist Church, glimpsed from junction with Priory Road
Holly Mount United Reformed Church, Worcester RoadHolly Mount Congregational Church (see below) was built in 1876 high on a ledge above Brays Outfitters on land purchased from the Holly Mount Estate; the main entrance is in Queen's Drive, which runs behind Brays, from where a better view can be had of the building.
Holly Mount URC viewed from Queen's Drive The church stands two hundred yards south of the location of Holly Mount mansion where Princess Victoria stayed with her mother the Duchess of Kent in 1830. About 1972 the Congregational Church ceased to exist in name after merging with the Presbyterian Church of England, so Holly Mount became a United Reformed Church (URC). Sadly the mounting cost of maintaining the building led to the closure of Holly Mount after the Pentecost service on 9th June 2019. In 2021 plans were put forward to convert the building into 3 homes. There is another URC church in Malvern Link. Friends Meeting House, Orchard RoadQuakers meet and worship at the Friends Meeting House in Orchard Road which was built in 1938.
The Friends' Meeting House The hall can be hired by local organisations such as the U3A. St Edmund's Hall, College RoadSt Edmund's, situated a few yards from the Friends Meeting House on the corner of Priory Road and College Road, was built as a Roman Catholic church in 1905. It closed in 1996 and is now owned by Malvern College and used as a concert hall and for other functions.
St Edmunds According to the Birmingham Post, during WWII, General de Gaulle chose first a school house at Malvern College, and then Ribbesford House at Bewdley as the headquarters for his Free French officer cadets. The cadets consisted of a group of some 200 young men, aged 14 to 17, and they too engaged in anti-invasion manoeuvres with the Home Guard. They remained at Ribbesford House for two years until D-Day, when, suitably trained and a few years older, they joined the invasion forces. A fading handwritten list in the NE corner of St Edmunds hall is a memorial to some 44 cadets who gave their lives for France.
French Cadets, Roll of the Fallen
Chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion, Wells RoadNowadays, very few people know of Emmanuelle Church and its fine facade hidden away on the east side of the Wells Road near the turning to the Wyche cutting. It was built in 1874 replacing an earlier chapel. It closed about 1970 and is now used as a health and fitness centre (see photo below). 
Emmanuelle Church On the 9th July 2020 the Worcester News reported that the tower had been removed after being found in a dangerous condition. Barnards GreenLansdowne Crescent Methodist Church
In more recent times the hall was used by a playgroup for pre school children. There is another Methodist church built from red brick in Somers Park Avenue Malvern Link. Click here for Lansdowne Crescent Methodist Church website Christ Church, Avenue RoadChrist Church was built in 1876. Rumour has it the church was originally built to meet the needs of the servants of the gentry, who themselves worshipped at The Priory. It is a lovely church with a spacious interior. The congregation is now growing and an abundance of concerts and events are held there. The church has recently become the new Malvern home of the English Symphony Orchestra (ESO). In normal times the Malvern branch of Sight Concern Worcestershire, and other organisations meet in the modern hall behind the church. 
Christ Church, Avenue Road Malvern LinkHoly Trinity, North HillHoly Trinity at Link Top, North Malvern was built in 1851. Lady Foley gave the land and Charles Morris a local benefactor and his sister Jane, who lived at 'The Chase' on Worcester Road, gave generously to the fund. James Dyson Perrins and his son Charles of the Worcestershire Sauce family who lived nearby at Davenham funded later additions. The church seats about 500, and functions are held at the hall on the Worcester Road, beneath the church.
Holy Trinity, North Malvern Click to go to Holy Trinity website St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Newtown RoadSt Joseph's was built in 1876 on land owned by the Catholic Hornyold family of Blackmore Park. The church was subsantially extended in 1998. Waiting for photo.
Brethren Meeting RoomWe came across the rear entrance to the Brethren Meeting Room approached by a gravel drive from Bank Street, while strolling down Back Lane to the Nag's Head. The main door is in Lygon Bank.
Sign on wall of Brethren Meeting Room It is not well advertised. The sign outside at the front, and the back, simply reads: You are invited to hear The Word of God preached here on the Lord's Day (Sunday) at 5.00 pm God willing St Matthias, Church Road
St Matthias, a large church surrounded by tall trees, was founded in 1846 and extended and largely rebuilt in 1881 with generous funding from Earl Beauchamp of Madresfield Court (see photo opposite). The tower was added in 1899. The church can also be approached from a footpath at the north end of Hampden Road. In recent time the back of the church has been converted into a wonderful kitchen and meetings area. St Matthias is part of the Parish of Malvern Link with Cowleigh which includes St Peter's in Cowleigh Bank and the Church of the Ascension at the top of Somers Park Avenue. Click for St Matthias web page St Peter's Cowleigh BankWe don't have a photo, but one can be found on the Malvern Link with Cowleigh website. Click for photo of St Peter's Church Cowleigh Bank Church of the AscensionBuilding started on The Church of the Ascension in 1902 and the church was consecrated in 1903. The church was the gift of Louisa Livingstone in memory of her husband Archdeacon Arthur Livingstone.
The Church of the Ascension
The tower of the Church of the Ascension On the western side of the tower there is a sculpture of Jesus ascending flanked by two angels, below which is an inscription which reads: Ascendisti in altum, cepisti captivitatum You have ascended on high, you have taken captivity captive At the base of the tower is a foundation stone which is quite difficult to read.
Foundation stone of the Church of the Ascension Language is a means of communication but this inscription leaves a lot to be desired! Apart from the first word which is indecipherable it appears to read: DXXXXXXis in Anno Domini MCMIII Laus Deo which we imagine translates as: Dedicated in the year of our Lord 1903 Praise be to God
Please do tell us if you know what the first word of the inscription is. Malvern Link United Reformed Church, Worcester RoadThe Malvern Link United Reformed Church is situated at the west end of the main street. It was built in 1903 by the local firm of Wilesmith, when the congregation moved from the chapel at the east end of the main street. The photo below shows the URC viewed from the small car park at the rear. 
The side of Malvern Link URC Chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion, Worcester RoadThe first place of worship in Malvern Link was the non-conformist Chapel of Lady Huntingdon's Connexion which was a spin-off from the Methodist movement. The chapel was built about 1837 as a result of the efforts of shopkeeper William Towndrow who was a grocer and draper. The first chapel was replaced by the later building shown above in 1861. 
The first chapel in Malvern Link Deterioration of the building led to the congregation moving to what is now the URC at the west end of the main street. The old chapel which lies opposite the junction with Spring Lane is currently being used as a take-away food outlet.
NewlandSt LeonardsSt Leonards was completed in 1864 under the patronage of Earl Beauchamp of Madresfield Court and replaced an ancient timber structure. The chapel forms part of the complex of alms houses known as The Beauchamp Community. The interior wall paintings, devised by the first vicar, depict biblical scenes. The photo below shows the northern entrance. 
The main door of St Leonards, Newland Read more about the choristers war memorial and churchyard
Madresfield, St Mary
The first church built about 1200 stood close to Madresfield Court. In the 1850s that church was replaced, but the foundations proved inadequate so the church was taken down and the present church erected at a greater distance from the Court. Click here to read more about the village of Madresfield and its war memorial. You can also read our biography of Reverend George Shaw Munn who was Rector of Madresfield from 1856 to 1905. The church is in the Benefice of Powick and Guarlford and Madresfield with Newland. That's a bit of a mouthful, and it is proposed to adopt a new friendly working name of Old Hills Malvern as the four churches in the Benefice surround the Old Hills near Callow End. So now you know! A tailored website for the four churches in the Benefice went online in July 2019. The link is: http://www.oldhillsmalvern.co.uk
The east end of St Mary Madresfield and churchyard Guarlford, St MaryApart from Great Malvern and Little Malvern Priories, the small church of Guarlford St Mary is the oldest existing church building in Malvern. It was built in 1843 - 1844 by local builder Thomas McCann on land given by Lady Emily Foley. The cost was met by generous local benefactors. More about the church can be found on the parish of Guarlford website, including a transcription of headstones in the churchyard. Click to read more about the church and the village Click for roll of the fallen in two world wars
North side of St Mary the Virgin, Guarlford Benefice website: http://www.oldhillsmalvern.co.uk
Poolbrook, St Andrew'sSt Andrews was built about 1885 as a 'daughter' chapel of Christ Church, becoming a parish church in its own right only in 1977. Some sources suggest it was built in memory of Edward Chance who had lived at Lawnside in Avenue Road. An extension built on the south side of the church contains function rooms, a kitchen and toilets.
St Andrews, Poolbrook St Andrews is particularly popular with young people.
Sign outside St Andrew's PowickSt Peter Powick which is part of the benefice of Powick and Guarlford and Madresfield with Newland, lies to the north of Malvern. At Powick village, bear right at the one way system taking the road to Callow End. Immediately on your left is a narrow drive leading to the church. From the lychgate you will see an impressive bell tower. The photo below shows the south side of the church viewed from the churchyard. The church is considerably larger than perhaps the photo implies; it has a team of bell ringers and a surprisingly large churchyard. Parts of the church are thought to date back to the 12th century but you will be glad to know at the south east corner of the church there are modern kitchen and toilet facilities!
St Peter, Powick The English Civil War started and finished nearby at Powick Bridge. The church tower was used as a lookout by Royalist forces. There are several memorials inside the church which might be of interest to local historians (note the church is often open to visitors on summer Saturday afternoons; but otherwise locked). In the churchyard, on the south side of the tower, there is a large memorial to John Whealer Lea one of the inventors of Lea and Perrins sauce. The clock on the tower was installed in 1879; the face is made from slate.
St Peters, lychgate The lychgate was erected in 1912 in memory of Arent de Peyster Chance; set into the stonework you will find his memorial which reads, 
To the Glory of God and in memory of Arent de Peyster Chance of Wheatfields (Callow End), born Christmas day 1836, died May 28 1906 Also of his daughter, Theadora Madoc Jones born July 9th 1871, died March 12th 1898 We wondered who he was and did some investigating:- Arent de Peyster Chance, born New York USA 1836, died Paris 1906, was a Midlands 'Brass Founder', the son of George Chance and Cornelia Maria Schuyler de Peyster. His mother was the daughter of soldier Arent de Peyster who must have been well known in his time. His father George was the brother of William and Robert Lucas Chance who founded the famous Midlands glassworks Chance Brothers. His cousin Edward Chance who lived at Lawnside in Great Malvern is mentioned briefly on our page about Malvern Schools. Arent's daughter Theodora had married Shropshire born clergyman Rev Edward Madoc-Jones in 1896 who the same year became vicar of Mattishall in Norfolk. He was quite difficult to trace in the census. He was born Edward Maddocks Jones the son of master upholsterer Edward Jones of 'Glentworth', Oswestry and Welsh born Emma Sarah Maddocks. At Caius College Cambridge he became Edward Madoc Jones before hyphenating his surname to Madoc-Jones. In the 1911 census he recorded himself as Rev Edward Madoc Madoc. Perhaps he felt he needed a surname more in tune with his rank. The church is in the Benefice of Powick and Guarlford and Madresfield with Newland Callow EndSt James, built from red brick, is a 'daughter' church of St Peter Powick, and is situated between the village C of E Primary School and Callow End Club. The church was built in 1888 by the sixth Earl Beauchamp.
St James, Callow End The village hall nearby can be hired for church and other functions. The church is in the Benefice of Powick and Guarlford and Madresfield with Newland.
Hanley SwanSt Gabriel's, Church of EnglandSt Gabriel's, which was dedicated on 13th April 1873, was funded by retired Liverpool 'Insurance Broker' Samuel Martin (1803 - 1883) of Catterall, Hanley Castle, and built on land given by local landowner Lord Edmund Lechmere. Lord Lechmere also gifted the fine Reredos behind the altar. Samuel Martin was a partner in the firm Rathbone Martin and Co. He married Isabella Moon who died in 1867, and soon after their daughter Mary died in 1869. Mary had married William Hudson Swire by whom she had five children one of whom was the mother of Leo Berkeley Paget, Military Cross. The photo below shows the entrance porch and tower of the church taken from the north west corner of the churchyard. There is a large car park to the east of the tower.
St Gabriel's, Hanley Swan To the left of the entrance you can just make out the red poppies on the war memorial. The plaque reads:
Hanley Swan War Memorial
Roll of the Fallen, Hanley SwanThe 'Roll of the Fallen' is not in the church but above the door into the main hall of Hanley Swan Village and Memorial Hall, see photo below.
The memorial reads:
The memorial probably lists those of both Church of England and Roman Catholic faiths. So many men lost for such a small rural community. The photo below shows the lychgate of St Gabriel's. The poster on the gate advertises Messy Church, an occasional fun afternoon for families involving painting and craft activities.
St Gabriel's, lychgate Click to go to St Gabriel's web page St Gabriel's is now part of a group of Church of England churches known as The Hope Church Family working to share the hope and good news of Jesus Christ in Upton upon Severn and its surrounding villages. These include Welland, Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, Ripple, Earls Croome, Hill Croome and Strensham. St James, WellandFollowing the road south from the cross roads at Hanley Swan, you will pass Hanley Swan Primary school and the Village Hall on the right. Proceeding on through farmland, you will eventually arrive at the cross roads marking the village of Welland. On the left is The Pheasant pub, which has been closed for some time, and St James church, on the corner opposite, which was consecrated in 1875.
St James, Welland On your right is Marlbank Road, off which is the Village Hall, car park, recreation ground, childrens' play area and Welland Primary school.
Welland Village Hall
Car parking between village hall, and school St James Church Burial Ground can be found a little further down the Marlbank Road on your right, just past the turning into Lime Grove, where a new lychgate has been built to mark the entrance. The postcode WR13 6NE will get you nearly there. Mary Purser has recorded the memorials and a paper record and map of the burial ground can be found in St James church. Click to go to St James, Welland web page St James is now part of a group of Church of England churches known as The Hope Church Family working to share the hope and good news of Jesus Christ in Upton upon Severn and its surrounding villages. These include Welland, Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, Ripple, Earls Croome, Hill Croome and Strensham.
Blackmore Park Catholic ChurchThe Church of Our Lady and St Alphonsus built in 1846 was funded by the Hornyold family of Blackmore Park. The inscription on the lychgate reads, Blackmore Park Catholic Church
There is a memorial to six casualties of war, five of whom are listed on the memorial in the village hall:
Also recorded is Thomas Dovey, a Bombardier in the Royal Field Artillery who died in India on 27th October 1918.
In fact a buyer was not found for the mansion until 1926, and shortly after that it was badly damaged by fire and was demolished. 
Blackmore Park Mansion, from sale catalogue Other Catholic churches are St Joseph's in Newtown Road, Malvern Link, and St Wulstan's in Little Malvern where the composer Sir Edward Elgar is buried.
Birlingham, St JamesBirlingham is a small rural hamlet lying within a loop of the river Avon to the east of Defford. To reach it take the road from Upton upon Severn to Pershore turing right at the top of a rise just after the dip at Defford Bridge. After turning off the main road you may, like us, feel transported back in time as you approach Birlingham church opposite a small green on which stands the war memorial. A good time to visit is in late February when the churchyard is carpeted with snowdrops and crocuses. 
St James, Birlingham The tower dates from the 15th century, but the rest of the church was largely rebuilt in 1784, when it consisted of a chancel and nave. The church was again entirely rebuilt in 1871–2 with money left by the Rev. Robert Eyres Landor, former patron and rector (ref 4). Much more information about the churches and chapels of Malvern can be found in the references at the bottom of the page. References
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Last updated 8th July 2021 |
Lansdowne
Crescent Methodist Church (see photo opposite) was built in 1866 and has a hall beneath the church which
was once used as a school.
The present Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Madresfield, see photo
opposite, was a gift of
Frederick 6th Earl Beauchamp of Madresfield Court and was consecrated on
10th November 1867.
Blackmore
Park Mansion no longer exists, but an impression can be gained of the house from
the image below, which is based on a photograph in the 1919 sale catalogue.