BMSGH HomePERSHORE HOLY CROSS
Descriptive Notes:
A
monastic community had been established in Pershore by 689, coming
under
Benedictine rule in the 10th century. In 1090 the Norman Abbey was
built, the
south trancept and tower piers remaining to this day. Through the
centuries,
and particularly in 1223 and 1288, the
building was severely damaged by fire. In 1540 the Abbey was
surrendered to the
King's Commissioners at the time of the Reformation. The monastic
buildings,
the Norman nave, the Lady Chapel and St Edburga's Chapel were
demolished and
their building materials were sold for what they could fetch. To their
credit
the parishioners of Pershore bought the monks' choir for £400
to be their
parish church. Some alterations were carried out in later centuries
including a
restoration by George Gilbert Scott in 1852. Only a small portion
of the original building now remains but it is still an impressive and
beautiful structure. Status:
Ancient Parish [25]
Originally a part of Pershore Abbey but a separate parish from the Dissolution. Included chapels at Strensham & Upton Snodsbury, both of which were separate parishes by 1535. Abolished civilly in 1949 to help create Pershore Civil Parish. Abolished ecclesiastically in 1729 to help create Pershore St Andrew with Pershore Holy Cross Ecclesiastical Parish. [25]
Location:
O.S. Ref: SO948458
The parish of Holy Cross includes the northern and western parts of the town of Pershore and stretches north-west to Kempsey and Pirton.
[From: 'Parishes: Pershore, Holy Cross', A History of the County of Worcester: volume 4 (1924), pp. 155-163. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42873. Date accessed: 15 February 2008.]
Walcot nearly 2 miles N.W. from Pershore and Wadborough, nearly 4 miles N.W., are hamlets. Broughton, 2½ miles N.N.W., is a chapelry annexed to Pershore. [57]
Parish Church:
The Abbey Church of the Holy Cross, Abbey Rd.,Pershore
Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [1] [25]
Hundred:
Upper Pershore [11] [25] [28]
Poor Law Union:
Pershore [3] [25]
Adjoining Parishes:
Norton Juxta Kempsey; Stoulton; Peopleton; Pinvin; Wyre Piddle; Wick; Pershore St Andrew; Besford; Pirton; Kempsey [1]
Parish Registers:
| Coverage | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Microform at WLHC | Christenings | 1539-1948 | [5] |
| Marriages | 1540-1964 | [5] | |
| Burials | 1539-1908 | [5] | |
| Banns | 1754-92 | [5] |
Begin 1616 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]
International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]
| Coverage | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parish Registers | Births / Christenings | 1540-1597 |
| Marriages | 1614-1812 |
Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
At BMSGH Shop
Pershore Abbey
Abbey Church of the Holy Cross & St Andrew
At BMSGH Reference Library [7]
Pershore Abbey
Abbey Church of the Holy Cross & St Andrew
At Worcestershire Library and History Centre [51] :-
The Holy Cross & St Edburga
Sepulchral monuments of Pershore (1929 microfilm)
At Society of Genealogists [59] :-
PERSHORE (Abbey) : Monumental Inscriptions: in Bloom's Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, part 1 [Manuscript.] IN: Bloom's Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, part 1 Published , Nd. Author Bloom, J Harvey (transcription.)
PERSHORE (Abbey) :
Monumental Inscriptions: Worcestershire Churchyard Inscriptions
[Manuscript.]
IN: Worcestershire
Churchyard Inscriptions
Published ,
Nd. Author
Bloom, J Harvey (transcription.)
PERSHORE (Abbey Church of the Holy Cross) & (St. Andrew) : Monumental Inscriptions: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions vol. 15 [Typescript.] IN: Worcestershire monumental inscriptions vol. 15 Published Birmingham : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, Nd. Author Farmer, G R (transcription.) Source D: Birmingham & Midland Soc. for Genealogy & Heraldry
War Memorials:
For the names of those commemorated on a War Memorial at
Pershore Abbey see:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/Casualties/ListByMemorial/Pershore
Abbey
All the censuses between 1841 and 1901 are now available on a number of fee-paying (Subscription or PayAsYouGo) sites including Ancestry.co.uk, FindMyPast.co.uk, thegenealogist.co.uk and genesreunited.co.uk. The 1911 census is available in full or in part on some of these sites. We are unable to advise on the choice of site since researchers' personal preferences will be influenced by the content and search facilities offered by each site. Some sites offer a free trial.
Access to the library edition of Ancestry.co.uk is widely available at most record offices, including Worcestershire Library and History Centre, and some libraries. You are advised to book time on their computers before making a visit.
A free-to-view site is being developed at freecen.org.uk for the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1891 censuses. Coverage of Worcestershire parishes is rather sparse at this time.
Census returns can usually be viewed at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints' Family History Centres.
Some repositories offer census details on microform, disc or printed copy. These include:1841-1901 at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [14]
Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1682-1851 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index
Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
Overseers of the poor accounts & vestry meeting minutes 1753-77
Churchwardens accounts & vestry meeting minutes 1906-32
Bell ringers' meeting minutes 1904-33
Service register 1914-23, 1930-61
Confirmation register 1937-58
Amherst Charity Account book 1880-1939
General account book 1916-26
Communicants roll & register 1924-26
Scrapbook re Pershore War Memorial. Early 20th cent - loose pages in book containing lists of service men's names & information about them
Sepulchral monuments of Pershore transcribed in 1929
Parochial Church Council Finance Committee Minutes 1931-51
Names of persons elected to serve on various parochial committees & other activities 1938-52
Parochial Church Council Meeting Minutes 1939-49
Other Sources:
Pershore Abbey : an illustrated guide Published Nd. Author Campling, Christopher R Source D: E McDougall. Society of Genealogists
A short hand-book of the abbey church of Pershore & the church of St. Andrew Published 1935 Author Lawson, F R Edition Reprint of 1915 vol. Source D: Ardingly College. Society of Genealogists
© Arthur Lewis and contributors 2008
Comments, additions, corrections etc to Arthur Lewis
Last updated on 14th December 2011