St Swithun's Church, Worcester, Worcestershire
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Interior of St Swithun's Church, Worcester, featuring the eye-catching tripple-decked pulpit, topped by a gilded pelican feeding her young. Photo: Andy Marshall -
The east window at St Swithun's Church, Worcester, redesigned by Henry Eginton in the 19th century. -
Exterior of St Swithun's Church, Worcester. Photo: Andy Marshall -
Photo: Andy Marshall
- Overview
- Map
- What's on
- What's nearby
Georgian splendour at its finest
This town centre church of St Swithun, rebuilt in 1734 is an elegant, perfectly preserved early Georgian gem. Inside, it is airy and open with box pews, a gallery and an attractive arched ceiling.
The carved three-decker pulpit, topped by a gilded pelican feeding her young, is a work of art, and the 1795 organ by the Gray Brothers of London is Grade I listed. The tall Tudor tower remains from the old church.
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Securing the future of St. Swithun's
29 October 2013
Fun for the future
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Our Centre for Heritage, Arts and Learning in Worcester wins HLF support
26 March 2015
We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in our bid for a £196,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to embark on an ambitious project to create a centre for heritage, learning and the arts in St Swithun's Church, Worcester
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Worcester 'Son et lumiere' to launch £250,000 appeal
18 November 2016
Grade I Georgian church will be awash with light and music during Worcester's Christmas Fayre.
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Worcester city-centre church awarded £23,000
30 November 2017
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation will support a heritage apprenticeship programme at Worcester St Swithun's
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HLF success for St Swithun's
03 October 2017
HLF back Sound and Art at St Swithun's
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Help us name St Swithun's!
19 February 2019
Help us pick a name for our new arts space in Worcester.
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Celebrating successful apprenticeships
29 March 2021
Creating bright futures for young people and historic churches
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Sarah McQuaid
31 May 2024 - 31 May 2024
'One of the most instantly recognisable voices in current music… Shades of Joni Mitchell in a jam with Karen Carpenter and Lana Del Rey.'
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Those Folk
05 June 2024 - 05 June 2024
‘Those Folk’ are a husband & wife musical duo that sing stunning vocal harmonies alongside guitar, accordion, mandolin & banjo.
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Opera Worcester Community Choir - Sounds of the Summer
08 June 2024 - 08 June 2024
Opera Worcester Community Choir are delighted to present ‘Sounds of Summer’ and support MacMillan Cancer Support.
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The Pocket Choral Society @ St Swithun's
04 October 2024 - 04 October 2024
Hailing from the very hard to find village of Pocket comes an a cappella show that has travelled the length and breadth of the UK.
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Keith James - The Songs of Nick Drake
07 December 2024 - 07 December 2024
‘Some of the most atmospheric and emotive music you will ever hear’ - The Independent
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All Saints' Church, Spetchley, Worcestershire
2.79 miles
Spectacular life-size monuments
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St Michael's Church, Churchill, Worcestershire
4.54 miles
A tiny atmospheric church
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Church of St Mary Magdalene, Croome D'Abitot, Worcestershire
6.52 miles
A masterpiece of architectural fantasy in a National Trust park
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Access information
All on one floor and at ground level, but with a gallery and 3 tier tower at the west end (not visitor-accessible). Through heavy metal gates with level access to west porch. Alternatively through east lobby door with one step up from the road. West lobby: Double door 192 cm wide to level but uneven stone flagged porch with level access to the nave. East lobby: Single door 127 cm wide with step up from street to even paved porch. 3 further steps to nave and door frame 91 cm wide.
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Facilities & Hire
St Swithun's has two organs, the original 18th-century organ and a replica Tudor organ, both in excellent working condition; electric lighting and a small kitchenette with running water. Toilets facilities are available in the Olive Garden restuarant next door by kind permission of the restaurant owners. There is no heating.
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Directions
Worcester town centre location, off Church Street at the north end of the High Street within the edge of the pedestrianised area
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Transport
Nearest railway station: Worcester (300yds).
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History & Further Information
Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church before you visit? You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.
Worcestershire and Herefordshire County Guide
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Herefordshire & Worcestershire. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.
St. Swithun's, Worcester guidebook
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Conservation and Regeneration
An arts, music and heritage venue in the heart of the city
We and our partners the Friends of St Swithuns are working to revitalise this Georgian gem in the heart of Worcester and to create an urban venue that promotes the city's unique music and arts heritage. In June 2015 we were awarded a first round pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund in support of this £2.1 million pound project.
> Read more about this project in our regeneration pages.
An arts, music and heritage venue in the heart of the city
The Churches Conservation Trust and our partners the Friends of St Swithuns are working to revitalise this Georgian gem in the heart of Worcester and create an urban venue that promotes the city's unique music and arts heritage.
- See more at: http://cct.staging5.pixl8.london/what-we-do/regeneration-and-communities/regeneration-projects/st-swithun-worcester-regen.html#sthash.u9Ml5K7Z.dpuf -
Community information
Click here to download a copy of the Church Plan which sets out the shared vision for the future of the church. This is a working document that will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any feedback or if you want to contact us about the church plan please drop us a line. When you write, please do give the name of the church, thank you!
Copy of Worcester Church Plan October 2021.pdf
Useful links
- Visit Worcestershire
- Things to do in Worcestershire
- Family Days out in Worcestershire
- Worcestershire Archaeological Society
- Worcestershire Industrial Archaeology & Local History Society
- The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry
- A list of churches in Worcestershire
- Worcestershire is in the Diocese of Worcester