Holy Trinity Church | Hardwicke

HARDWICKE
Dedication: Holy Trinity
OS Grid Reference: SO 271 438
Road Reference: B4348

Facilities:

Information:

Hardwicke is an agricultural parish of 4,000 acres, surrounded by Merbach, Little Mountain and Cusop Hill. The 230-strong population is served by the church of the Holy Trinity.

The parish was formed in 1853, having formerly been part of Clifford, with the impetus coming from the recent construction of the church.
The foundation stone had been laid on June 12th 1849 by Rev. John Webb of Tretire, Monmouth, and the church was consecrated on 3rd September 1853 by the bishop of Hereford.

The oak roof with hammer beams in the nave and the pews are reputed to have been built with oak from The Moor Estate, home of the Penoyre family.

The colourful stained glass windows depict: the cardinal virtues of faith, hope and charity; the twelve apostles; the angel announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds; a ship (possibly an offering of thanks for the safe return of the Penoyre family members from Jamaca); the baptism of the Lord; his crucifiction and the last supper.

Dedicated in 1853 and built by the Penoyre family. Kilvert visited regularly and would have known Rector Thomas Webb the renowned astronomer.

Thomas William Webb (1807 - 1885)
The Reverend Thomas William Webb, born in 1806, was only son of Revd John Webb. Educated by his father before going to Magdalen Hall, Oxford, he was ordained in Hereford Cathedral in 1830. Thomas married Henrietta Montague Wyatt of Mitcheltroy, Monmouth in 1843. They had no children.

Thomas served in a number of parishes in the south of Herefordshire, sometimes as curate to his father, as well as at Gloucester Cathedral.
In 1856 he became vicar of Hardwicke. He remained there until his death in 1885.

Thomas Webb is most remembered for his interest in astronomy and the meticulous observations that he made from a small observatory in the garden of Hardwicke Vicarage. He took a great interest in encouraging the younger generation to take up astronomy and published many articles in popular scientific magazines as well as writing books. Most notable of these was Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, which became a standard resource for astronomers across the world until well into the 20th century.

(Thanks to Mark and Janet Robinson for their contribution to this entry)