England & Wales Hardwicke Marriage Index
Marriages 1754 - 1837
Wolverley St John the Baptist

The Parish

The parish of Wolverley lies in the extreme northwest of Worcestershire forming an extensive stretch of the border with neighbouring Staffordshire. Wolverley is located just over two miles north of the manufacturing town of Kidderminster and stands on the intersection of the B4189 & B4190 roads both of which act as notional bypasses around the town of Kidderminster taking traffic between the major road in and out of that regional centre. Wolverley is a substantial settlement sitting on the western banks of the River Stour, old maps show a large village mainly built to the north of the isolated sandstone outcrop on which sits the church of St John, today's Wolverley is a much-grown place with extensive modern developments to its southwest and almost on the verge of becoming contiguous with the sprawl that is modern Kidderminster. The village was, at one time, dominated by the buildings of its 17th century school but that has largely been converted into housing in modern times. Besides the village, almost town, of Wolverley the wider parish encompasses a large area of northwestern Worcestershire including smaller villages such as Cookley & Drakelow. The parish sits on the distinctive red sandstone which has created fertile soils and arable farming is thus of a higher percentage of land-use than is customary in western England. Modern developments have come Wolverley, the valley of the Stour being followed by the river's canalisation as the Stourbridge Canal. The River Stour drains the parish southwards, passing through Kidderminster to meet the Severn at Stourport before heading off to the Bristol Channel on a rather long journey. Wolverley is sited at between 35 metres, at the riverside, and 85 metres in the higher properties in Fairfield, land continues rising both northwards to 165 metres on Kinver Edge and some 202 metres above Upper Arley. Wolverley parish was extensive, covering a little over 5,500 acres it is more reminiscent of an upland parish than one in relative lower lands, within that acreage would have been supported close to 2,100 parishioners. In Domesday times Wolverley was altogether a much quieter rural place, held by the Bishop of Worcester it could offer just 6 ploughs and a mill.

The Church

St John the Baptist's church has an unparalleled site, standing aloft on the heights of a sandstone rock and reached  by steps or a winding ramp cut deeply into the sandstone.  The church, itself, is therefore something of a disappointment in finding it dates merely to the early 1770s. To have this mighty site topped by  medieval splendour would be an asset to the village today. The church is built in a dark red brick that compliments the local red sandstone, and that positively glows in evening sunshine. Pevsner is quite scathing, however, in describing it as "imposing if not particularly attractive" and "looking like an early Victorian town hall". All is not totally lost from its medieval predecessor, however, as the core of the western tower is retained from the prior church nowadays covered in its 18th century replacement. Despite its late construction there has still been much change since, just 30 years after its completion, in 1813, both northern & southern galleries were added whilst in 1882 the chancel was extensively modified and 7 years later the nave was also restored as well as a vestry and half-timbered porch being added. A short spur leads north from the roundabout on the A489 and parking can be found at its end, from here the church can be found to the east in an extensive and unobstructed churchyard with no obstacles for the photographer.