Hope Bowdler, St Andrew
The Church
The original C12th parish church was rebuilt in 1862, having fallen into complete disrepair, using material from the original building and a nearby quarry.
The new church is Grade II* listed and is notable for its fine stained glass windows dedicated to past Rectors and local families.
The lychgate, erected in 1863, is the only one in Shropshire with a coffin stone.
There are numerous ancient gravestones in the churchyard. One, dated 1759, records the sad demise of Edward Knott:
"In the quarry where this stone was got. Edward mischanced to fall, it was his lot. Time for preparation it was small. God will have mercy on us all. That was all that could be said. When in one minute he was well and dead."
Our Work
From May to September there are droppings scattered in the nave and chancel from brown long-eared bats and pipistrelles. Bats are also thought to be using the tower as a roosting site.
The Bats in Churches project funded cloth covers to replace the unsightly plastic sheeting covering the pews.
In May 2022 children from Rushbury CofE Primary School visited to learn about the history and heritage of the church, why bats like to roost in churches, the problems this can sometimes cause, and the work of the Bats in Churches project.
Hope Bowdler Case Study Poster
Upcoming events
If you’d like to contact or find out more about the church, visit their page on A Church Near You