STOKE BLISS

Status:
Ancient Parish [25]
In Herefordshire (Broxash Hundred) and included, in Worcestershire, the hamlet of Kyre Parva.
Kyre Parva in Doddingtree Hundred was perhaps originally in Kyre Magna Ancient Parish but in Stoke Bliss by 1655 Stoke Bliss was otherwise Herefordshire, (Broxash Hundred). Kyre Parva was a separate Civil Parish in 1866 in Worcestershire.
'Stoke Bliss' was entirely Herefordshire 1866-97 until it was transferred to Worcestershire in 1897.
Stoke Bliss was abolished ecclesiastically in 1973 to help create Stoke Bliss with Kyre Wyard, Hanley William & Hanley Child Ecclesiastical Parish.[25]

Location:
O.S. Ref: SO651628
6 miles S.E. of Tenbury, near the Herefordshire border

Parish Church:
St. Peter

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Hereford until 1898, Archdeaconry of Ludlow & Diocese of Hereford (1898-1919), Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester (1919-1926), Archdeaconry of Dudley & Diocese of Worcester (1926-1973). [1] [25]

Hundred:
Partly in Upper Doddingtree but chiefly in Broxash, Herefordshire Hundred. [44] [11] [25]

Poor Law Union:
Tenbury [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes:
Hanley Child; Hanley William; Wolferlow (Herefordshire); Little Kyre [1]

Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1571-1964	[5]
	Marriages	1571-1964	[5]
	Burials	1571-1964	[5]
Originals at WRO	Burials	1571-1968	[12]
	Banns	1755-84, 1823-1990	[12]

Bishops' Transcripts:
At Herefordshire Record Office

Register Copies:
STOKE BLISS : Marriages(Index) 1712-18, 1749-79, 1781-1809, 1813-20 (Bishops' Transcripts): Bertram Merrell's marriage index of Herefordshire [Microfiche.]   IN: Bertram Merrell's marriage index of Herefordshire   Published : Bertram Merrell, 1996   Author Merrell, Bertram Society of Genealogists [68]

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
Herefordshire monumental inscriptions index, version 4 [CD-ROM.] - Published Herefordshire FHS 2005 - Edition Version 4 - Author Herefordshire FHS
Society of Genealogists [59]

Census Records:
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]
For 1841 see Kyre Parva

At Society of Genealogists :-
Registration District of Tenbury in the counties of Hereford, Shropshire & Worcester in 1851 [Worcestershire part] [Microfiche.] - Published Hereford : Herefordshire FHS, 1996 - Author Herefordshire FHS (comp.)
Worcestershire 1891 census returns: Tenbury registration district RG 12/2319 [Microfilm.] - Published London Public Record Office 2003

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1571-1851 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
Churchwardens accounts & vestry minutes 1762-1830
Vestry minutes, Churchwardens & overseers accounts accounts 1810-36

Schools Records:
The following school records are original documents. Note reference number and contact staff at Worcestershire Record Office:
Stoke Bliss and Kyre C E School
Admission register - 1903 - 63 - Ref: BA 3982
Log books - 1884 - 1963 - Ref: BA 3982

A handlist of other records of schools and of other educational establishments held by Worcestershire Record Office for this parish can be found here.

Directories:
STOKE-BLISS, a parish partly in the upper division of the hundred of DODDINGTREE, county of WORCESTER, but chiefly in the hundred of BROXASH, county of HEREFORD, 6¼ miles (N.) from Bromyard, containing, with the chapelry of Little Kyre, 303 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Hereford, rated in the king's books at £6. 16. 8., and in the patronage of the Crown. [Topographical Dictionary of England 1831 by Samuel Lewis]

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© Arthur Lewis and contributors 2008
Comments, additions, corrections etc to Arthur Lewis
Last updated on 12th July 2011

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