The Much Birch village church, dedicated to St Mary and St Thomas a Becket is in the Wormelow Hundred Group of seven Parishes and the present building dates from 1837. The church is located at the centre of the parish in a prominent position on the A49, its tower visible from most parts of the parish. The recently restored church clock was installed in 1921 as a parish war memorial and is a fine time piece. The church forms part of a grouping of community buildings with the Much Birch Surgery and the Community Hall. The church is well attended, providing weekly services for an Anglican congregation and conducting weddings and funerals.
The Old Rectory was built in 1880 but was sold by the Diocese in the 1970's when the house needed extensive repairs and the proximity of the A49 after straightening was making the house unsafe for children. The Old Rectory is now the Pilgrim Hotel. The replacement rectory from the 1970's was built next to the Community Hall but is now leased out by the Diocese as the present Priest-in-Charge resides at The Rectory, Birch Lodge.
http://www.achurchnearyou.com/much-birch-st-mary-st-thomas-a-becket/
For further details, please contact : Revd Mark Johnson, The Rectory, Much Birch, HR2 8HT. Tel : 01981 540390. E-mail : revmark100@yahoo.co.uk
Or follow Wormelow Hundred Benefice on Facebook here
The Little Birch village church, dedicated to St Mary the Virgin is in the Wormelow Hundred Group of seven Parishes.
The earliest records of the church date back to 1560, but the present building was constructed by Stephen Thackwell in 1869 replacing a decaying medieval building. Thackwell, rector at that time, was a wealthy philanthropic man and paid for the entire construction himself.
The church is built of Ham Hill and Bath stone, and consists of nave, north aisle, chancel with polygonal apse, and bell-turret over the west gable. The windows are filled with painted glass by Harland and Fisher of London. The architect was William Chick, Esq., of Hereford, and the builders were Messrs. Coleman and Sons. Among the relics from the old church may be noticed the Norman font dated 1260, communion-table and bier of the date 1557.
https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/10608/
For further details, please contact : Revd Mark Johnson, The Rectory, Much Birch, HR2 8HT. Tel : 01981 540390. E-mail : revmark100@yahoo.co.uk
Or follow Wormelow Hundred Benefice on Facebook here
First built in 1858.
The Chapel is at the top of Barrack Hill in Aconbury/Little Birch Parishes.
Closed in December 2011.
Much Birch Community Hall was opened on 13th May 1979 for the use of the whole community in the Parish. The hall was extended in 2012, to include the Arthur Harris Room/Community Resource Centre, solar panels and double glazing. A further extension was completed in 2019 providing an enlarged lobby with a canopy over the front entrance, two extra meeting/activity rooms, reconfiguration and installation of new toilets, with separate accessible toilet, an area for nappy changing, a new cleaners/storage room and a new corridor giving access to the rear of the building and the upper floor. The kitchen was also extended and refurbished. Wi-Fi is now available on request.
The hall is owned by the Parochial Church Council of Much Birch who are also the trustees of the building. It is used for church meetings and activities, and by a variety of groups for a wide range of activities and can also be hired for private function.
There is a defibrillator located on the external wall of the hall.
To find out more and to book the hall, contact Mrs Sylvia Jones on 01981 540980, email: mbchsec@gmail.com or visit the website https://www.muchbirchcommunityhall.org/
Little Birch Village Hall was opened in 1951 as a World War 2 memorial. The hall was built on land donated by David Dyke of Castle Nibole and the cost of £2,000 was raised by the public subscription. Little Birch Parish Council are the trustees of the hall and in 1977 they refurbished the building to celebrate the Jubilee.
Please note that there is a defibrillator located on the outside of the hall.
To find out more and to book the hall, contact Linda Maden on 07849 637242 or littlebirchvh@gmail.com
Kingsthorne Memorial Hall (previously known as Much Birch Little Hall) was built as a World War 1 memorial on land made available by Cecil Manning. The hall was originally used for all village communal activities, but after Little Birch Hall was built it was used only by the Scouts and the rifle club. There is an obsolete rifle range at the rear of the building.