Bit of research needed!

[jocelyn plummer]

Slightly off topic--- is there anybody who is familiar with the village of Rochford in Worcestershire--- I am following up some Family History. Please PM me if you can help-- in particular the name of the Priest in Charge of the Parish Church, where we have a Family Vault.

 

[Moo]

Come on, folks!
There must be someone who can help poor Joss.
WARNING: I shall keep bumping this back to the top until she gets a useful response.

 

[Penners]

we have a Family Vault.

Wow - is that where you keep the family gold bullion? :wink:

 

[Flyfisher]

Is this of any help? http://www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/news/news.php?i152

It mentions Rochford as being a parish in the Teme Valley South benefice and there is an email address for the Diocese press officer, who may be able to find the desired contact.

 

[fjpdesigns]

I think this may be the chap you want - he was appointed last year.
Revd Robert Barlow
A Church of England benefice is formed of a number of different parishes with one priest given responsibility over these. The parishes in the Teme Valley South benefice are St Peter and St Paul, Eastham, St Michael, Rochford and Stoke Bliss, Kyre Wyard, Hanley William and Hanley Childe (this parish has four churches - St. Peter, Stoke Bliss, St Mary, Kyre Wyard, All Saints Hanley William and St. Michael and All Angels, Hanley Childe).

From
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:BKOF5CwmJKIJ:www.cofe-worcester.org.uk/news/news.php%3Fi152+rochford+worcestershire+parish+curate&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Thank you all so much for your help!

I did some googling before posting but could not find much info, however I think you've done the trick!
Briefly, my Grandmother ( circa 1865) was born and brought up in Rochford House. As I have been going through family archives I have found early photographs etc, many of which are in triplicate .They maybe of interest to a local Historian.

Most of the family is buried in Rochford Church yard, in what we all refer to as 'the vault', it has/did have an Angel standing at the head, ( fingers appropriately pointing upwards!) My Mother kept the grave maintained annually and I think I need to find out whether it is still standing or needs work. The grave was last 'opened' in 1992 for a Family commital.

Hope this will keep Moo from too much 'bumping' :!:

 

[MatthewC]

Flyfisher was right with the principle - always start with the diocesan website. There are a couple of things to be borne in mind for churchyard/archive questions.

1. Is the churchyard still open for burials? If not, then it may well be in the care of the parish or district council, not the church itself (even though it's in the curtilage of the church), so the vicar won't be able to help much.

2. Archived registers are not (meant to be) held by the church, so again the vicar won't be able to help. All complete registers should have been handed to a more responsible authority for safekeeping - I think this is because the C of E was found to be quite poor at looking after old documents! In London this authority is the London Metropolitan Archives, and elsewhere I think it tends to be the County Records Office (or equivalent).

Matthew
(ex-churchwarden)

 

[Gareth Hughes]

For future reference (though you need to know the benefice)
http://www.crockford.org.uk/

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Thanks Gareth, I had forgotten Crockfords.

I have all the Family History stuff, just needed to see what has happened to 'the vault' --from pictures of the Church that I have found it looks as though most of the Churchyard is well cared for, and some monuments in good order, but cannot spot the Angel--! Good excuse for a trip I think, have n't been there since 1963!!,The Priest in Charge has some interesting credentials.