About our Church

St. Philip's Church was dedicated as the Church of St. Philip the Apostle on 22nd February, 1870 by Dr. Henry Philpott, the Lord Bishop of Worcester. The new Church was to be a daughter church of St. Bartholomew's, at Tardebigge.
The land for the Church was given by Mr. R. Hemming, J.P., of Bentley Manor, and the money - £3000 - for the Church building was given by The Baroness Windsor. The Church was to provide for a parish of 500. A far cry from the size of the Parish today.
It was built of red and grey stone quarried from local quarries at nearby villages of Hewell and Finstall. Bath stone was used for dressings and decorations.
There are some notable features both inside and outside the Church, but probably the most interesting is the Reredos. It was made from ancient marbles and glass brought from the Baths at Caraculla, Rome by the Hon. R.R. Clive.
The Parsonage belonged to the Parish, and was assigned to the 'Parsonage Board'. This was a separate charity to provide housing for clergy.
The Pumphouse Lane School House, was bought for the Church by a local farming family, the Tongs. When this was sold, the money was used to buy and lay the Car Park, next to the Church.