Christ Church and St. Mary's Malvern

Parish of Christ Church and
St Mary's, Malvern

Christ Church - Around the Church

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Christ Church is entered through the south door. In the porch is a modern oak settle, a memorial to a faithful church member. A notice hanging here records a grant of Ł120 made in 1874 towards the building of the church upon the condition that "all pews in the south side are reserved for the free use of the poorer inhabitants of this Parish".
The fine east window of the church was designed by the eminent Victorian stained glass artist Charles Eamer Kempe and its 44 lights portray the life and mission of Christ. Two of Kempe's firm's trademark "wheatsheafs" can be seen in the upper right hand part of the window. Production of the window was carried out by Alfred Edward Tombleson whose initials appear in the window. Unusual features of the window are the St George's shield and The Malvern Hills.The east window in the Lady Chapel is the work of Clayton and Bell, probably the most famous of all Victorian stained glass artists. It is a tribute to a popular local doctor, Andrew Henderson, who died in 1886.
The attractive south window in the Lady Chapel depicts Florence Nightingale and St. Francis of Assissi and commemorates the short life of Grace Tucker who died at the age of 4 in the year her father started his ministry at Christ Church.
The wooden high altar table dates from 1928. The kneelers and pew runners were worked by ladies of the congregation.
In the chancel is a memorial plaque to the Rev F W Davenport who guided the parish for over 40 years and another to the memory of the Rev George Thompson "who for some years worked for the Glory of God as curate of this parish".
The organ, which was built by Nicholsons of Malvern Link in 1884, consists of three manuals (Choir, Great and Swell), a pedal board and 1486 pipes. The pipes were decorated in 1896 in memory of Mrs Sarah Caroline Davenport, wife of the first Vicar.
The processional cross commemorates two airmen who lost their lives in the last war while serving in the RAF - Sgt J D Marshall and Flt/Lt R D M Mackenzie.
The two churchwardens' staves are surmounted by well carved figures with the names of all vicars and churchwardens listed on silver plates.
Christ Church has a small collection of silver plate which has been donated over the years.
The large oil painting on canvas of "The Archangel Gabriel and the Virgin Mary" in the south aisle is by A Ratti (active 1845-1872).
The oil painting above the west tower door entitled "Follow Me" was painted by Mrs Jessie Darbyshire, a considerable benefactor to the parish.The commandment boards on either side of the tower door were moved there from the east wall of the chancel.The large bookcase on the north wall is a memorial to a former verger and the smaller bookcase, which houses the Church's library, was given in memory of a former organist and choirmaster.
A plaque on the wall nearby commemorates the installation of electricity in the church in 1922.
The two War Memorials are of particular interest. The 1914-18 War Memorial was executed by the prestigious Bromsgrove Guild in "white marble with an alabaster surround" at a cost of Ł121. Due to the difficulty of purchasing marble and alabaster of a sufficiently high quality following the war the memorial was not completed until December 1921. Further details about the Memorial can be found nearby. The 1939-45 War Memorial, about which very little is known, cost Ł60 in 1950. The standards of the Barnards Green branch of the Royal British Legion hang above the memorials.
The two large banners hanging in the north aisle were found in a poor state in the tower some years ago and were restored by a member of the congregation. They appear to commemorate the Church of England Temperance Society Band of Hope Singing Competition but no further details are known about them.
The church banner was designed and worked by Miss Dorothy Yardley in memory of her mother Edith who died in 1944. The banner took 2 years to complete and bears the cross of St George (the emblem of the Church of England) and the arms of the Worcester Diocese. The banners on either side of the nave aisle represent the seasons of the church year.
Our partnership link with a parish in Germany is commemorated by a German Bible and other gifts placed in the south aisle. Visits between our two parishes take place on a regular basis.
Christ Church is blessed with a number of very talented people and our church is always beautifully decorated with flower arrangements.
The tall and elegant church spire, approximately 180 feet high, is topped with a gilded weathercock. The tower contains two bells which are hung for full-circle ringing. They were cast by John Taylor & Co, Bellfounders of Loughborough in 1875. The treble is 6 cwt in C and second is 7 cwt in D. The unusual turret on the south side of the church is for decorative purposes only.
The church is surrounded by well-kept grounds but does not have its own churchyard, all burials taking place at the nearby Great Malvern Cemetery.
The award-winning Parish Hall, built in 1988, has excellent facilities and is available for hire. It replaced an earlier Hall which is now used as a Sale Room.