WORCESTER ST HELEN

Descriptive Notes:
The present building stands on the site of what is believed to be the earliest church in Worcester, probably dating from the Roman occupation. By the time of the Second World War, the church had ceased to be used for worship and was put to various uses until, in 1956, it became the County Record Office. The church had never been declared legally redundant, and when the County Records Office was moved to new premises in 2002, its future use was again under discussion.
After more than 60 years, St Helen's Church has been returned to use as a centre of worship. The first service took place in March 2003. There are plans to continue using St Helen's for regular worship.
(www.allsaintsworcester.org.uk/about/sthelens.htm - accessed 19th February 2008)

Status:
Ancient Parish [25]
Originally in Worcester St Mary (Cathedral). A separate parish by the 10th century. It included originally:
A chapel at Churchill, which was a separate parish by 1269
A chapel at Claines, which was a separate parish by the 13th century
A chapel at Hindlip, which was a separate parish by 1269
A chapel at Holt, which was a separate parish by 1269
A chapel at Huddington (early considered a chapel in Crowle Ancient Parish but separated from latter probably in 1570
A chapel at Warndon, which was a separate parish by 1300
A chapel at Whittington, which was early transferred to Worcester St Peter the Great
A chapel at Wichenford, which was a separate parish at the Dissolution
A chapel at Wick Episcopi, which included a chapel at Bedwardine St John. 'Wick Episcopi' was a separate parish by 1283 but later abandoned & the chapel at Bedwardine St John consecrated in 1371 as the parish church. Worcester St Helens was abolished civilly in 1898 to help create Worcester Civil Parish.[25]

Location:
O.S. Ref: SO850548

Parish Church:
St. Helen, Fish St., Worcester

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [1] [25]

Hundred:
Oswaldslow [25]

Poor Law Union:
Worcester (1836-98) [3] [25]

Adjoining Parishes:
Worcester St Swithun; Worcester St Martin; Blockhouse Extra Parochial; Worcester St Peter; Worcester St Michael Bedwardine; Worcester St Alban; Worcester St Andrew [1]  Worcestershire Library and History Centre ]

Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1538-1939	[5]
	Marriages	1538-1938	[5]
	Burials	1538-1905	[5]
	Banns	1754-1812	[5]
Transcripts at WLHC	Christenings	1538-1812	[27]
	Marriages	1538-1812	[27]
	Deaths & Burials	1556-1812	[27]

Bishops' Transcripts:
Begin 1626 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]

International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1538-1875

Register Copies:
St.Helen: Christenings 1538-1812 BMSGH Shop

At Society of Genealogists [68] :
WORCESTER (St. Helen) : Christenings & Marriages 1538-1812, Burials 1556-1812   Published London : Chiswick Press, 1900   Author Wilson, Joseph Bowstead (transcription.)           Edition Ltd edn.      

WORCESTER (St. Helen) : Christenings & Marriages 1538-1812, Burials 1556-1812 [Microfiche.]   Published : Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry, 2000   Author Wilson, Joseph Bowstead (transcription.)           Edition Copy of 1900 edn.

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
St Helen: Worcestershire Library and History Centre [51]

At Worcestershire Record Office [51] :
Copy of inscriptions on mural tablets & gravestones (1918)
Rubbings of monumental inscriptions & ground plan (1956)
Mural tablets, memorial stones & inscriptions (1939)

WORCESTER (St. Helen) : Monumental Inscriptions: in Bloom's Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, part 2 [Manuscript.]   IN: Bloom's Worcestershire Monumental Inscriptions, part 2   Published , Nd.   Author Bloom, J Harvey (transcription.) 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]
1851 transcript on open shelves at HQq942.4465031

Search Services (Fee paying) - BMSGH and Independent:
Burial 1660-1840 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
Account & Minute Book 1682-1715
Churchwardens accounts 1718-1819
Minute book 1784-1846
Monumental inscriptions guide 1918

Other Sources:
The churchwardens' accounts of St. Michael's in Bedwardine, Worcester 1539-1603; to which are prefixed the churchwardens' accounts of the church of St. Helen, Worcester for 1519-20 : Worcestershire Historical Society [vol. 7] - Published Oxford : Worcestershire Historical Society, 1896 - Authors: Porter, A S & Amphlett, John (trans.) ed. Society of Genealogists

Directories:
The living of St. Helen's is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £11, endowed with £400 private benefaction, £400 royal bounty, and £600 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage of the Bishop. [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 19th July 2011

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