England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Church Lench All Saints

The Parish

The parish of Church Lench lies in the far east of Worcestershire and forms part of the intricately winding border with neighbouring Warwickshire. Church Lench sits roughly 6 miles north of the market town of Evesham and sits within a broad area devoid of significant numbered roads, the closest such road being the B4088 (which links Evesham through to Alcester) which lies over 3 miles to the east. Church Lench is a mid-sized compact village largely built around two lanes which sits at right-angles Main Street running east to west and Evesham Road from north to south. The village sits on fairly high ground with fine views across the broad Severn Vale to the west. Farming would have provided the main income of the parish, the soils here being a rather thick and sticky clay gave pastoral farming the main impetus but the local fruit growing was also important, today the village is surrounded by orchards. Church Lench is drained westwards by the infant Whitsun Brook which after merging with the Piddle Brook meets the Warwickshire Avon to the east of Pershore, the Avon then joins the Severn and reaches the sea through the Bristol Channel. Church Lench sits on a sloping site, the lower parts to the east being at 80 metres above the sea whilst the church's end is 20 metres higher, this height is the maximum reached for some distance in fairly gentle terrain. This area of the county has many smaller parishes Church Lench was, however, one of the larger, covering a little over 2,500 acres it would have supported a population of close to 400 parishioners. In Domesday times Church Lench was altogether a more modest place, held by Evesham Abbey it could just muster 5 ploughs.

The Church

All Saints' church sits close to the junction of Main Street with Evesham Road and sits on the northern side of the former. Like most churches All Saints holds fabric from many ages of construction and change, the earliest part of the church is Norman Romanesque and 12th century, this comprises the main nave and its southern doorway, albeit the latter has been reset by later changes. This early work saw much change during the 14th century from when dates the remainder of the main body. The chancel was constructed in the early 14th century style, the Decorated, but has also been much changed, the nave windows date from a similar period as does the arcade. The imposing western tower marks the next major change being from the uncommon date of the 16th century Tudor period, a time when little church-building took place.. Like most churches All Saints received major restoration in Victorian times, the rebuilding work on the chancel was from the early 1850s whilst the rest came later in the same decade, finally the northern vestry was added in the late 1880 as part of further work. Main Street is sufficiently wide to permit parking away from church & school. The churchyard is elevated above road level with a short flight of steps leading up to the lychgate for entry. Sadly a few dominant conifers impair the favoured southeastern aspect making the church a challenge for the photographer especially on a sunny day.