Archives and websites
Archives
The Worcestershire Library, Archives and Archaeology located at the new Hive in Worcester City contains a wealth of reference books on Worcestershire, as well as photographs, local maps, directories and newspapers to look up further information on your church and parish. There is also access to historic material such as parish registers and church documents for more detailed research. Contact:
The Hive
Sawmill Walk
The Butts
Worcester
WR1 3PB
www.thehiveworcester.org/explore-the-past.html
Victoria County History for Worcestershire
Follow links to the Online Victoria County History for Worcestershire. The VCH includes the history (and often pictures) of churches in each parish.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/
Church Plans Online
The Incorporated Church Building Society was founded in 1818 to provide funds for the building and enlargement of Anglican churches throughout England and Wales. It was the principal voluntary Society for promoting the building and restoration of churches throughout the most active period of church building since the Middle Ages. The ICBS archive was deposited in Lambeth Palace Library between 1974 and 1990.
The archive includes over 15,000 files relating to applications by parishes for grants from the Society. Some 12,300 plans are included in these files which, in some instances, are the only surviving evidence for the layout of the church before restoration. Where the church has since been demolished, it may be the only extant plan.
Church Plans Online
National Monuments Record
The National Monuments Record (NMR) is the public archive of Historic England. In the archive they hold over 10 million historic photographs, architectural and archaeological reports, plans and other items related to the historic environment of England. The NMR staff can help people interested in their local history, or those with a more general interest in the history of England.
The Chapels Society
seeks to foster public interest in and knowledge of the architectural and historical importance of all places of worship and their related structures in the United Kingdom, loosely described as Nonconformist.
The Chapels Society
The Ecclesiological Society
A website which includes a very useful list of organisations relating to church buildings
http://www.ecclsoc.org/organisations.html
Building Conservation
A website published by © Cathedral Communications Limited. Most of the articles on this website are reproduced from past editions of The Building Conservation Directory and Historic Churches
http://www.buildingconservation.com/index.htm
Parish Mouse
This site contains transcriptions of a number of parish registers, historical books and directories. All the transcriptions have been made from the original books. Many parishes also have a photo album of the church and graves; Worcestershire is particularly well covered.
http://www.parishmouse.co.uk/worcestershire
Page updated May 2022