Rev. Thomas Clarke

EDUCATION EVENTS

MA

APPOINTMENT EVENTS

Rector: Broadwas [30/12/1814 - 22/01/1821]

Vicar : Overbury with Alstone, Teddington and Little Washbourne [22/01/1821]

St. Michael in Bedwardine Parish, Worcester in 1796.
The church of St. Michael is a peculiar, in the gift of the dean and chapter of Worcester. About the year 1551, this living lapsed to the crown, and has so continued ever since, it not being worth while to pay the expence of the seals, &c. on account of the smallness of the rectory; it is, therefore, held by licence. The first incumbent was Will'us de Norton, pbr. 12 kal. Oct. 1280, according to Bishop Giffard's Register, f. 109. a. The present minister is the Rev. Thomas Clarke, M. A. This church, which is situated at the north-east angle of the cathedral, is an ancient building; its inside, by the last fitting up it received, hath been rendered extremely neat, decent, and commodious. A new altar-piece, communion-table, and a pulpit, embellished with good carvings, which, with a new gallery and pews, have given it altogether a very respectable appearance.

[21st June, 1810. William Clarke, son of the Rector burial]

Rev. Thomas Clarke, Rector at Broadwas & Knightwick officiating burials November 1953 to August 1955.

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
Overbury is a vicarage, with Alstone, Teddington, and Washbourne annexed; Rev. Thomas Clark, incumbent; instituted 1821; in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester.

Alstone, Teddington, and Little Washbourne
These churches were historically chapelries of Overbury in the Diocese of Worcester and are now part of the Beckford Group of Parishes.

The old church of St Michael in Bedwardine, founded in 826, stood very close to the cathedral on the north-east side. Around the church were a number of houses that blocked up the northern facade of the cathedral. St Michael's had a tower and at the west end stood the ancient clochium, or bell tower, of the cathedral with its lofty spire.

St Michael's was considered the parish church for the whole of the cathedral precincts, and if any marriages were performed at the cathedral they were entered in St Michael's register, the incumbent receiving the fees. Marriages were solemnized here between persons belonging to almost every place in the country, evidence that the population was more mobile than we often think. Its burial ground had wide use, too receiving all the prisoners and debtors who died in the county gaol, which was part of the old castle, and the Scots that were slain in the battle of Worcester in 1651.

The old church was demolished and a new church was built in 1839 in the Early English style, with an entrance and frontage in College Street, and adjoining the old Lich Gate. It had a chancel, nave and aisles, a small gallery for 200 people and windows by Hardman of Birmingham. It was little used, however, being closed as a church in 1907 and becoming the Diocesan Records Office.

St. Mary Magdalene, Broadwas, Worcestershire.