Services

St. Paul's offers a wide range of services, ranging from more formal BCP based services to more informal celebrations and services which are family orientated.

Contact: William Neill, churchwarden Tel: 01451 830656

The Church

St Paul’s is a comfortable, well cared-for church. The many memorials round the walls testify to the prosperous families who have supported it through the ages. It is probably built over a Saxon church looked after by the priest shown here in Domesday Book.

The nave and chancel are 12th century in origin, although there is an old stone in the porch which might be Saxon. The fine four-bay arcade to the south aisle has 13th century piers and capitals, and the south doorway and a piscina reset in the south wall are also both 13th century. The east window in the south aisle is 14th century, as is the second piscina and credence shelf in the south aisle.

In the 15th century the three-stage tower was built – on existing foundations; its stair-vice doorway enjoys a splendid Norman tympanum with a Maltese cross between two six-petalled roses and more carving on the arch and lintel.

The 17th century brought the round-headed windows of the south and west walls, the south porch with its round-headed archway, and an unusual group of 17th century bale tombs in the churchyard, one with four kneeling mourners on each side. Part of the south aisle served until 1866 as a private chapel separated by a low screen.

In the 1860s, earlier than most, the church was restored, it is thought by Ewan Christian who rebuilt Broadwell Hill. The chancel windows were replaced in the Decorated style and the chancel roof replaced by the present raftered roof with its corbel heads of king, queen and bishops. The stained glass and organ date from the 1880s.

For over 800 years Broadwell belonged to Evesham Abbey, a 708 gift from Cenred of Mercia (Penda’s grandson who abdicated after four years to follow a religious life in Rome). The 13th century rent for the manor was 900 eggs, 12 cooking pots and 3d.

Post-reformation purchasers include Thomas Baskerville, whose daughter Eleanor and son-in-law John Talbot sold much of the manor to the villagers by converting copyhold to freehold. In 1627 they sold the advowson to William Leigh of Adlestrop, and for most of the next 300 years the rector of Broadwell with Adlestrop lived in Adlestrop. On the last day of 1936 this union was dissolved, Broadwell joining Stow (to be served by a resident curate), and Adlestrop joining Oddington. In 1960 Broadwell left Stow and, under the patronage of the Bishop of Gloucester, became a foursome with Adlestrop, Evenlode and Oddington. They were subsequently joined with Bledington, Icomb and Westcote to form the current benefice.