A Brief History of the Church

The church as we see it today dates mostly from 1850 - 1851. It was built in that year in a 13th century style to a design by the local architects firm of John Jacques & Son. They were also responsible for the Mariners Chapel in the docks and the original Hucclecote Methodist Church.

The site for the church had been given by local landowner and High Sheriff of Gloucestershire, Edmund Hopkinson of Edgeworth House, and the cost was borne by voluntary contributions and by grants from, among others, the Gloucester and Bristol Diocesan Church Building Association which had been established to further church building in areas inhabited by the poor.

The church was consecrated by the Bishop on Wednesday 30 April 1851, and a report on the service appeared in the Gloucester Journal on the following Saturday. It described St Philip and St James as ‘the little new church erected in this pretty village … The sacred building, which lies a short distance off from the left of the road, was crowded by an attentive congregation, including the principal residents of the neighbourhood and numerous rustics, who, however, demeaned themselves in the most respectful manner.’ An ‘excellent’ sermon was apparently preached by Rev Edward Bankes. Already a wealthy man as a result of his first marriage to the daughter of the Lord Chancellor, John Scott (1751-1838), 1st Earl of Eldon, Edward Bankes held a number of clerical positions in plurality (in a way which was increasingly frowned on in the mid-19th century), but seems to have lived in the close at Gloucester Cathedral, where he was a canon, along with holding another canonry at Bristol Cathedral.

At this time the church building was a lot smaller and comprised a chancel with north vestry and nave with a porch on the south and a west bellcot. The Gloucester Journal report described the design as ‘very chaste and the workmanship executed in the very best manner, and reflects the greatest credit on all parties concerned.’ In 1851, Hucclecote at that time coming under Churchdown parish, St Philip and St James was assigned those parts of Hucclecote south of the Horsbere brook and at Noke (by Churchdown Lane) as a district chapelry.

The background

In fact St Philip and St James wasn’t the first Christian place of worship in Hucclecote. There was a chapel in the area in 1289, a daughter chapel of St Oswalds minster (later priory) in the centre of Gloucester, but Hucclecote probably became part of Churchdown parish soon afterwards. Local churchgoers from then on would have had to trek along Lark Lane (Larkhay Road), to the 12th century church on the top of Churchdown (Chosen) Hill, crossing the brook at Pitt Mill, or go down Churchdown Lane to get to the same destination.

The school next door

A year after the consecration of the new church, in 1852, a small National school was built north of the churchyard on land also given by Edmund Hopkinson. This is now known as the Stone Building. In the days before state provision of education, National schools were schools founded by the Church of England’s National Society for Promoting Religious Education. They provided elementary education to the children of the poor. It was built for 30 to 40 pupils, but by 1898 average attendance was 80 and its income from voluntary sources had become insufficient, and in 1880 a school board was compulsorily formed to run it. This board had five members representing Anglicans and Methodists, and the school moved in 1900 to a new building north of the former National school. It became an infants' school on the opening in 1957 of a school in Hillview Road and was renamed Larkhay infants' school in 1966. In 1982 it was closed, and the children were transferred to Hillview school.

The church since 1851

Over time the church was adapted and extended. In 1886 the easternmost bay of the nave was adapted to accommodate the choir, the floor being raised and a low stone screen built to divide it from the rest of the nave. This screen has since been removed. A north aisle and arcade was added to the nave in 1911, and the vestry was enlarged in 1927.

Several times over the years reports on the church’s activities featured in the local press. A rather alarming report in the Gloucester Citizen in January 1895 described how the members of the congregation were nearly asphyxiated during a service due to faulty ventilators in the coke stoves used to heat the church. Several parishioners apparently had arrived early and found the church filled with smoke and smelling strongly of sulphur. They decided to leave the doors open, but when the service started the vicar requested for them to be closed. All was well until part way through the service a little girl jumped onto her seat and according to the report, ‘screamed loudly and then fainted away. Though this incident naturally caused no little commotion for a time, the service was continued after the little girl had been removed.’ However, ‘A few minutes later a sister was taken in a similar manner, and she also had to be carried out of the building.’ Other people began to be affected and eventually ‘… ‘the service was abruptly brought to a conclusion …’ The evening service was cancelled.

The church’s harvest celebrations in 1919 were similarly covered, this time in the Gloucester Journal. The church had been ‘tastefully decorated by the ladies of the congregation’ and the services were ‘well attended, especially at evensong when the Rev A C de Boinville (vicar of All Saints’ Gloucester) was the preacher.’ The collections for the day amounted to £7 and were in aid of the Royal Infirmary and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.

In June 1927 the Gloucester Journal included a lengthy article detailing a fete that was held to raise money for the new vestry referred to above. Held in the field next to a house owned by a parishioner (Temperley the residence of Mrs G T Prebble), it was preceded by a procession of decorated cars, cycles and pedestrians that progressed from the church to the field in Green Lane where the fete was held. Prizes were subsequently awarded to the best decorated car, bicycle and pedestrian.

The fete was then opened by the Mayoress of Gloucester (Mrs D E Finlay). Among the entertainments on offer during the afternoon and evening were, two plays performed by Hucclecote Dramatic Society, a display by the Hucclecote Boy Scouts, al fresco dancing, and performances by the City String Band. In addition, there were a number of stalls including, arts and crafts, Mother’s Union, produce, white elephant, cake and pound, sweets and teas. As if that wasn’t enough there were also competitions including, skittling for a pig, bowling for fowls, hidden treasure, guessing the weight of a sheep and a children’s fancy dress competition.

Just three years later in January 1930 the Gloucester Journal was reporting on the opening of a new church hall near the church. It was proudly stated to be made of asbestos and timber and lit and heated by gas and it measured 60 by 25 feet long with a large main hall and two cloakrooms. Built in a month by Harrison and Co. of Camberwell, London it was said to be ‘the first hall of a size suitable for meetings and dancing and events of a similar kind in Hucclecote.’ The opening ceremony was performed with a silver key by Mrs R H Penley, the daughter of a former vicar.

The church continued to serve the community of Hucclecote and in January 1991 it made the pages of the Gloucester Citizen again. This time it was reported that numbers had increased rapidly under the leadership of Revd. Paul Kenchington. There was talk of extending the church premises. This didn’t happen in the end, but the church still flourishes and aims to present the good news of the gospel to its neighbourhood as can be seen elsewhere on this site.