In 1851, The Worcestershire Chronicle began a series of weekly articles by “A Rambler” entitled “Stray Notes on the Churches and Church-goers of Worcestershire”. From 1st September 1852, for the next seven weeks, the Rambler turned his attention to the churches in the Vale of Evesham. He was much enchanted by the area, beginning by saying:
Thanks to the opening of the railway, we have now a ready communication with that golden valley, clothed with the richest verdure and watered by the meandering Avon, which has from early times been famous for its beauty and productiveness – I mean, of course, the Vale of Evesham. And if my reader is in love with the quiet repose of rural scenery, in a beautifully sequestered spot, where the fauna and satyrs, the wood nymphs and the fairies, lingered long ….. let him invest some two or three shillings in a railway ticket and leave the train at Evesham …..
The Rambler noted that there were 12 parochial chapelries of the Vale – Offenham, South Littleton, Middle Littleton, Bretforton, Badsey, Wickhamford, Hampton, Norton, Church Honeybourne, Bengeworth, All Saints and St Lawrence – which were originally subordinate to the monastery of Evesham. He would be concentrating on the first seven, as he had previously noted the others.
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The Chronicle of 6th October 1852 featured an article about the Church of St John the Baptist, Wickhamford. It is likely that the Rambler visited the village in June, as he refers to the service as being a valedictory one for the incumbent. This was the Reverend Edmund Boggis, who was Curate of Badsey and Wickhamford during the incumbency of the absentee Vicar, the Reverend Charles Phillott. When Reverend Phillott died in 1851, Reverend Boggis remained at Badsey Vicarage until the arrival of the new incumbent, the Reverend Thomas Henry Hunt. Hunt officially became Vicar on 21st April 1852, but there is evidence that Reverend Boggis was still resident in the area in June as he was officiant of a marriage at Badsey on Thursday 17th June. The first record we have of the Reverend Hunt conducting a baptism, marriage or burial was a baptism on Sunday 27th June. It is likely, therefore, that the Rambler visited on Sunday 20th June.
Leaving Badsey, and passing over the brook which probably gave that parish its name [its Saxon termination “eye” signifies water], we come at once in sight of Wickhamford church, a small and unpretending structure, which is but one long field’s length from Badsey, and being but a small living (perpetual curacy) of about £40 or £50 a year, is held by the same incumbent. When I entered the church, which was nearly half an hour before the service commenced, the seats were quite full, except some monstrously large pews on the south side, the only occupant of which scowled on me so when I looked round for sitting room that I was fain to retire, and at last found a resting place in the laps of two labourers, sitting on a plain bench behind a partition six feet high, forming the boundary of the aforesaid pews, which most effectually shut out from us the view of the rest of the church. More comers continued to pour in, till the pews were also crowded, and in a place less sacred it would have afforded some amusement to note how delighted the rustics were who, by coming early, and being secure in the enjoyment of their own seats, watched the disappointed movements of those who came late and looked round imploringly for an inch of room.
Behind us was a ladder reaching up into the tower, and a number of boys took up their position on the rounds, till the sermon putting them to sleep, they would probably most of them have broker their necks had it not been for the vigilance of the clerk, who kept himself awake by every now and then advancing to the west end and brandishing his cane towards the sleeping beauties on the ladder. I thought this was such a case of church repletion as I had nowhere else witnessed in the county, and began to think of writing to the secretary of the Incorporated Society for pecuniary aid in the enlargement of the building, or to the clergyman and churchwardens to induce them to remove the immense monuments in the chance, which are 12 feet or 13 feet long by 5 feet wide, when I discovered the secret of the large attendance – it was a valedictory sermon by the late incumbent, it being his last Sunday among the people of Badsey and Wickhamford, and the church-goers of both places had assembled together to take their leave of the reverend gentleman. An old Scotch wife, once parting with her priest, assured him that “he baith cam’ and left wi’ the guid will o’ the parish”, but although this might have been deemed an equivocal compliment, I must beg to assure the Rev Mr Boggis that I do not mean it as such in applying the anecdote to his case, as he seems to have left behind him a savour of good works and to have conciliated the esteem of his congregations; yet much remains for his successor to accomplish in both parishes, and that too with a firm but gentle hand.
The church and family monuments were “restored and beautified (as is somewhat ostentatiously recorded on a tablet above the chancel arch) by Arthur, Lord Sandys, of Ombersley Court, in the year 1841”, by whose family Wickhamford was purchased from the Throckmortons, to whom it had fallen at the dissolution. The seat-ends are carved, and the pulpit has alto-relievo figures carved on its panels. A painting of the royal arms, executed in 1661, occupies the width of the church where traces of the ancient rood yet remain. Folding wooden gates divide the chancel from the nave. The font is wood, nicely carved, with the four Evangelists surrounding the shaft, and winged cherubs the basin. The old font (a plain circular one) is turned upside down in the chancel, and is made to serve as a seat. On the front of the gallery, which is at the west end, are carvings on the panels representing cherubs and cornucopiae, as also Joseph and the Virgin. A chancel, nave and tower complete the little church; some of the windows are lancet and others square-headed; the walls are covered with Scripture sentences painted within black outlines; and the roof is tied with cross-beams. In the chancel is a plain pointed piscine. The walls of the church require colouring, the doors painting, and the pews a sweeping measure of reduction which, unitedly, would greatly improve the appearance of this neat little church. The oldest monument here is a mural slab – “Here lyeth Jane, the wife of Thomas Sponer, who departed the 10th of Marche 1584”. Two gorgeous tombs, which glisten with gold and bright colours, occupy the greater part of the chancel. They have recumbent figures of alabaster, lying beneath bedstead canopies, supported by five Corinthian pillars in length, and arches between. One of the monuments is to Sir Samuel Sandys, “Eldest son of that famous prelate Edwyn, Archbishop of Yorke”, died 1626, and his wife Mercy, who was descended from the ancient family of the Culpepers. The other is to Sir Edwin Sandys, who also died in 1626, and Penelope his wife. This is the knight, described as “a bold-spoken members of the House of Commons”, who was arrested some time between June and November 1621, upon the prorogation of Parliament. The Commons, upon reassembling, stood by their member, and as he was sick in bed they sent two members to wait upon him and hear from his own mouth the cause of his arbitrary arrest, giving no credit to the declaration of Secretary Calvert that he had not been committed for any parliamentary matter.
Close to the church is an ancient manor house, now occupied by Mr Taylor. The population of the parish in 1841 was 123; in 1851, 129.
In the previous week’s edition of The Worcestershire Chronicle, there was an article about Badsey Church.
Maureen Spinks, June 2025