WORCESTER ST SWITHUN

Descriptive Notes:
Rebuilt except for its Tudor tower in 1734 – 36, St Swithun’s is, inside and out, a stylish and almost unaltered example of early Georgian church architecture, with few equals in the country. It has all the furnishings of its time including font, organ, box pews and altar; but most notable are an elegant three-decker pulpit, under its wonderful tester surmounted by a gilded pelican feeding her young, and the mayor’s pew. Nothing is incongruous and high quality workmanship prevails throughout. [40]

Status:
Ancient Parish [25]
Worcester St Swithun was a parish in its own right. In 1905, following Ecclesiastical parish changes, it gained Worcester St Martin's Church, in the Cornmarket as a chapel of ease. This St Martin's Church, previously the parish church, became known as Worcester Old St Martin Church to distinguish it from the new Worcester St Martin's Church in London Road, Worcester.
St Swithun ceased to be a parish in 1978. The parish then became Worcester St Martin in the Cornmarket.
St Swithun was abolished civilly in 1898 to help create Worcester Civil Parish.[25]

Location:
O.S. Ref: SO851549

Parish Church:
St. Swithun, St. Swithin's St., central Worcester.
St. Swithun's Church is now closed for worship. It was declared redundant on 9 June 1976 and is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. [5] [40]

Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction:
Archdeaconry & Diocese of Worcester [25]

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

Adjoining Parishes:
Worcester St Nicholas; Worcester St Martin; Worcester St Helen; Worcester St Andrew; Worcester All Saints [1] [ Worcestershire Library and History Centre ]

Parish Registers:

		Coverage	Source
Microform at WLHC	Christenings	1538-1971	[5]
	Marriages	1538-1970	[5]
	Burials	1538-1953	[5]
	Banns	1823-1905	[5]
	General	M1538-1754; C1538-1812; B1538-1812 (recorded as deaths until 1606 unless otherwise stated) Transcribed by W.H.Challen	[5]
Transcripts at WLHC	Christenings	1538-1812	[27]
	Marriages	1538-1754	[27]
	Burials	1538-1812	[27]
Originals at WRO	Christenings	1538-1927	[12]
	Marriages	M1538-1973	[12]
	Burials	1538-1953	[12]
	Banns	1960-79	[12]

Bishops' Transcripts:
Begin 1616 Worcestershire Library and History Centre [22]

International Genealogical Index (IGI):
[19]

		Coverage
Parish Registers	Births / Christenings	1538-1875
	Marriages	1538-1875

Register Copies:
At Society of Genealogists [68] :-
WORCESTER (St. Swithin) : Christenings & Burials 1538-1812, Marriages 1538-1754, banns 1823-1906 [Microfilm.]   Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971     

WORCESTER (St. Swithin) : Marriages(Index) 1538-1754: Boyd's marriage index [Typescript.]   IN: Boyd's marriage index   Published , 1925-55   Author Boyd, Percival ed.   Source D: P Boyd.

WORCESTER (St. Swithun) : Christenings 1813-1905, Marriages 1754-1812, banns 1794-1809, 1823 [Microfilm.]   Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971      

WORCESTER (St. Swithun) : Christenings 1905-27, Marriages 1813-1917, Burials 1813-1953 [Microfilm.] Published Salt Lake City : Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971

Monumental Inscriptions and Associated Documents:
St Swithun epitaphs Worcestershire Record Office [51]

WORCESTER (St. Swithin) : 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 1538-1860 Worcestershire Burial Index
Marriage see Worcestershire Marriage Index

Parish Records on microform at Worcestershire Library and History Centre [13]
Offertory book 1870-1908
Confirmation register 1950-70
Apprenticeship indentures & miscellaneous papers 17th & 18th cent

Other Sources:
Worcester, St. Swithins, additional charters & deeds, c. 1216-1673 [Manuscript.]   Published , Nd.   Author Bloom, J Harvey (transcription.) Society of Genealogists

Directories:
The living of St. Swithin's is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £15. 15, endowed with £200 private benefaction, and £400 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter. [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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