Forest Edge Group, Anglican Church, Gloucestershire, UK

St Andrews Churcham with Birdwood

Sunday Services Churcham
First week 9.30am HC, Second week 6pm, Third week 11am HC, Fourth week 10am Family Service

Lych gate in early sunlight Churcham was called Hamme when it was recorded in the Domesday Book. It became Churcham when the manor was given to the Abbey of Gloucester in recompence for a battle where some monks were killed.
The Nave, Chancel arch and lower part of the tower stonework are remnants of the original pre-Norman work. In 2003, Churcham, a few miles east of Huntley, is a farming community with a Primary School on the Main Rd. The Parish was joined to Huntley in October 2002, and the five parishes are called 'The Forest Edge Group' of churches.
The lych gate is very impressive, with the early morning sunlight shining on the tower and spire.
Electricity has been installed, and in 1991 heating was added. In 2000 the Mechanical clock was repaired, it chimes each 15 minutes.
South wall with Hook memorial On 8 Aug 2008 the memorial to Henry Hook was re-instated in the Churcham churchyard. The new granite chippings on the grave were kindly donated by Allstone of Gloucester.
Henry Hook was born in Bulley and came to fame at the Battle of Rourke’s Drift, South Africa. After the battle he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. He died in 1905 in Gloucester and was buried in Churcham. His wife Ada is buried by his side.
The Gloucester Co-op Funeralcare was contacted to see if they would be willing to help with the Hook memorial and, after satisfying them that the Church owned the memorial (it is well documented that the vicar of Churcham in 1905 started a public subscription for a memorial and raised the sum of Ł20–8s–7d), the Co-op kindly agreed to restore it.
Wheels were set in motion and The Royal Regiment of Wales Museum at Brecon were contacted to obtain the correct inscription for the stone. On the 28th July this year Highworth Memorials (a Co-op company) collected the memorial and cleaned and re-lettered it. Hook memorial The film, which also starred Michael Caine, showed the battle by about 150 British soldiers, most from the 24th Regiment of Foot (later the South Wales Borderers), against 4,000 Zulu warriors Rorke's Drift in South Africa. With Private John Williams, Private Hook, then aged 28, fought off fighters to bring eight patients to safety.
Martin Everett, the curator of the South Wales Borderers Museum in Brecon, where Private Hook's VC is on display, said. "He was a good solid soldier. Private Hook was a Methodist lay preacher - a God-fearing person. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for saving lives. There's no greater thing that a man can do," he told the Daily Mail. Private Hook's great-grandson, Cyril Bunting, 53, said: "I'm glad his story is being publicised in a positive rather than a negative light this time. My grandmother was so upset when she saw the film and the way he had been portrayed. That was not how she remembered him."
See Hook-VC and also for Henry's own account of what happened at Rorke's Drift, 22nd and 23rd of January, 1879, his share in the Action. He received his VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley, GOC South Africa at Rorke's Drift on 3 August 1879.
South wall in late sunlight Retired Font beside the door The south wall, outside the chancel, showing the narrow door, and the different sizes of the stones used.
Notice Mary at the porch containing the main entry door, also the remnant of the decommissioned Font.
St Andrews Font beside the base of the first font The old font was broken on 26 Oct 1675 when the thatch roof of the church caught fire, and fell into the nave. Cleanup included a new font placed beside the stump of the original. South wall in late sunlight The present spire and nave roof were built after the 1875 fire.
In 1914 the maintenance work on the interior of the Nave uncovered this Piscina - a niche in the church with a small water drain into which the Priest empties any water used. It is on the south wall, close to the sanctuary and beside the Pulpit.
Vigilant parents Stonework of old Norman windows is visible on the outside walls. A small carved stone over the outside of the North Door is older than the church, and believed to be British.
St Andrews is surrounded by farms, and next to a large duck pond. Only one from the previous clutch eluded the cats, so the parents are wary with 13 new ducklings to watch.
Recorded by Rev George Charles Hall Inducted August 1837 into the Vicarage of Churcham with Bulley annexed.
On 12 July 1849 the Foundation Stone of the Church of the Holy Innocents was laid at Highnam by Charles Clinton Parry, eldest son of Thomas Gambier Parry Esquire of Highnam Court.
On 29 April 1851 the Church of the Holy Innocents at Highnam and the churchyard of the same was consecrated by James Henry Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol; and Edward Mansfield Clerk was licenced to the perpetual curacy of the District of Highnam, Over and Linton, on the presentation of Thomas Gambier Parry, Esq of Highnam Court.

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Churcham was called Hamme when it was recorded in the Domesday Book. It became Churcham when the manor was given to the Abbey of Gloucester in recompence for a battle where some monks were killed. The Nave, Chancel arch and lower part of the tower stonework are remnants of the original pre-Norman work. In 2003, Churcham, a few miles east of Huntley, is a farming community with a Primary School on the Main Rd. The Parish was joined to Huntley in October 2002, and the five parishes are called 'The Forest Edge Group' of churches. The lych gate is very impressive, with the early morning sunlight shining on the tower and spire. Electricity has been installed, and in 1991 heating was added. In 2000 the Mechanical clock was repaired, it chimes each 15 minutes.
On 8 Aug 2008 the memorial to Henry Hook was re-instated in the Churcham churchyard. The new granite chippings on the grave were kindly donated by Allstone of Gloucester. Henry Hook was born in Bulley and came to fame at the Battle of Rourke’s Drift, South Africa. After the battle he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. He died in 1905 in Gloucester and was buried in Churcham. His wife Ada is buried by his side. The Gloucester Co-op Funeralcare was contacted to see if they would be willing to help with the Hook memorial and, after satisfying them that the Church owned the memorial (it is well documented that the vicar of Churcham in 1905 started a public subscription for a memorial and raised the sum of Ł20–8s–7d), the Co-op kindly agreed to restore it. Wheels were set in motion and The Royal Regiment of Wales Museum at Brecon were contacted to obtain the correct inscription for the stone. On the 28th July this year Highworth Memorials (a Co-op company) collected the memorial and cleaned and re-lettered it. The film, which also starred Michael Caine, showed the battle by about 150 British soldiers, most from the 24th Regiment of Foot (later the South Wales Borderers), against 4,000 Zulu warriors Rorke's Drift in South Africa. With Private John Williams, Private Hook, then aged 28, fought off fighters to bring eight patients to safety. Martin Everett, the curator of the South Wales Borderers Museum in Brecon, where Private Hook's VC is on display, said. "He was a good solid soldier. Private Hook was a Methodist lay preacher - a God-fearing person. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for saving lives. There's no greater thing that a man can do," he told the Daily Mail. Private Hook's great-grandson, Cyril Bunting, 53, said: "I'm glad his story is being publicised in a positive rather than a negative light this time. My grandmother was so upset when she saw the film and the way he had been portrayed. That was not how she remembered him." See Hook-VC and also for Henry's own account of what happened at Rorke's Drift, 22nd and 23rd of January, 1879, his share in the Action. He received his VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley, GOC South Africa at Rorke's Drift on 3 August 1879.
The south wall, outside the chancel, showing the narrow door, and the different sizes of the stones used. Notice Mary at the porch containing the main entry door, also the remnant of the decommissioned Font.
The old font was broken on 26 Oct 1675 when the thatch roof of the church caught fire, and fell into the nave. Cleanup included a new font placed beside the stump of the original. The present spire and nave roof were built after the 1875 fire. In 1914 the maintenance work on the interior of the Nave uncovered this Piscina - a niche in the church with a small water drain into which the Priest empties any water used. It is on the south wall, close to the sanctuary and beside the Pulpit.
Stonework of old Norman windows is visible on the outside walls. A small carved stone over the outside of the North Door is older than the church, and believed to be British. St Andrews is surrounded by farms, and next to a large duck pond. Only one from the previous clutch eluded the cats, so the parents are wary with 13 new ducklings to watch.
Recorded by Rev George Charles Hall Inducted August 1837 into the Vicarage of Churcham with Bulley annexed. On 12 July 1849 the Foundation Stone of the Church of the Holy Innocents was laid at Highnam by Charles Clinton Parry, eldest son of Thomas Gambier Parry Esquire of Highnam Court. On 29 April 1851 the Church of the Holy Innocents at Highnam and the churchyard of the same was consecrated by James Henry Lord Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol; and Edward Mansfield Clerk was licenced to the perpetual curacy of the District of Highnam, Over and Linton, on the presentation of Thomas Gambier Parry, Esq of Highnam Court.