Malvern (Great Malvern)

For Non Anglican churches in Great Malvern please see links at bottom of this page.

Anglican: Priory Church of St Mary and St Michael

The Benedictine Priory of Great Malvern was founded c1095 and the Norman church completed by c1120. There were additions in the following centuries and a major rebuilding in the Perpendicular style, similar to Gloucester Cathedral, in the 15th century. The church contains much 15th century stained glass and a unique collection of medieval wall tiles. At the dissolution of the monastery in the 16th century the townspeople bought the church to use as their parish church, which it remains to this day. There was a major restoration by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1860/62.
The Parish Website (see below) has a good history section.
The Priory features in both Jenkins’ 1000 Best English Churches and Betjeman’s Best British Churches (2011). It is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm. (Ref Parish Website February 2015.)

Great Malvern Priory from old undated postcards.

Great Malvern Priory, October 2011.

For pictures of Great Malvern Priory in 2015: Please Click Here (www.flickr.com/amthomson)

References and some further sources:
Aiken, John. Census of Religious Worship, 1851: The Returns for Worcestershire.
Bridges, Tim. Churches of Worcestershire (2005)
Brooks, Alan, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Buildings of England: Worcestershire (2007)
Morgan, Paul. Inspections of churches and parsonage houses in the Diocese of Worcester in 1674, 1676, 1684, and 1687 (1986)
Noake, John. The Rambler in Worcestershire or, Stray Notes on Churches and Congregations.
Volume I (1848)
Ransome, Mary. The State of the Bishopric of Worcester, 1782-1808 (1968)
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, The Hive Worcester, Parish Papers:

n.b. Full details of these books are on the bibliography and sources page.

Websites: British History Online: Entry for Great Malvern.
Grade I Listed Building: Listing Details Here.
Historic England listing: Please Click Here.
Parish Website.
A Church Near You.
Family History Website.

Nearby Anglican churches: Malvern Link, West Malvern, Cowleigh, Malvern Wells.

Entry updated May 2022

Anglican: Christchurch

A large Victorian church located near to Great Malvern Station. Built in 1874 by T D Barry & Sons of Liverpool. The east window is by Kempe. Christ Church is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am to 12 Noon.

Christchurch, July 2012.

For more pictures from 2012: Please Click Here. (www.flickr.com/tudorbarlow)

References and some further sources:
Bridges, Tim. Churches of Worcestershire (2005)
Brooks, Alan, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Buildings of England: Worcestershire (2007)
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service, The Hive Worcester, Parish Papers:

n.b. Full details of these books are on the bibliography and sources page.

Websites: British History Online: Entry for Great Malvern.
Grade II Listed Building: Listing Details Here.
Church Plans Online: Ground plan 1873 – 76.
Parish Website.
A Church Near You.
Family History Website.

Entry updated May 2022

Anglican: Holy Trinity (Link Top)

On a hillside site on the A449 to the north of the town centre, built in 1850/51 by Samuel Dawkes of Cheltenham. The interior furniture, pews, stalls and pulpit, were renewed in 1908 by William Henman. The east window is by Kempe. Holy Trinity is open on Thursday mornings after the 10am midweek service.