Church History

In the mid nineteenth century, the church was in a very bad state of repair. Henry Yates Jones Taylor in his biography wrote “I remember Brockworth Church when it was in such a terrible of dilapidation that the walls were supported with trunks of elm trees. During that epoch of ecclesiastical degradation, I sat in a miserable pew and saw the sunbeams dance and quiver through the crevices or fissures of the old wall, which, through neglect, were losing their pristine cohesion. The services were cold, perfunctory and irreverent. The grandeur of the old arch solemnized the building which had a greater resemblance to a respectable barn than to a parish church sanctuary.”

In 1845, Thomas Fulgarries, architect, wrote a “report and estimate” which would included “re-building the west wall, Buttresses, Plinth Arches, Reframing Nave and Porch Roof and purchasing open seats.” The minutes of the Vestry meeting for 5th June 1846 records that “The church, which is in dilapidation, being investigated, it was agreed that the repairs should forthwith take place” Mr John Hubert, who later undertook the contract, attended and produced a specification and estimate. The total sum amounted to £263 10s 5D (£29,255) and it was agreed that this be accepted and the whole was referred to the Churchwardens “That the above work be carried out”

At a further meeting on the 6th November 1846 the Vestry decided upon “taking down a portion of the tower of the said church, which is in dilapidated state, and re-building and raising the same to a higher elevation; and taking down the present pews in the said church and erect new ones in their stead, and taking down and removing the pulpit and reading desk and placing the same in a better and more convenient place in the said church, so as to afford additional accommodation for the inhabitants of the said parish attending divine Services in the said church”. Mr Niblett carried out the contract for the price of £561 4s 0d (£62,167)

Before 1848 the church had a tower with a high-pitched roof, hipped on each side. A drawing of the church from that date has recently been turned into a pen and ink study for a mug.

The tower has a peal of six bells cast in 1849 by John Taylor, Bellfounders of Loughborough. The heaviest tenor bell, in the key of F, weighs 13cwt.

Electric lighting was installed in 1929.

An appeal fund was launched in 1977. The resulting restoration consisted of a new roof, repaired stonework, new altar and complete redecoration. Completed in 1981, this work cost £24,000.

More recently, work has been undertaken to create a lady chapel in the south transept area and to remove pews around the font to improve access.

Surrounding area

The Church is situated on the edge of the village and it is likely that a church has existed on this site since Saxon times
Around 600AD the Saxons called our village "Brockwurthin" - the "Wurthin" (enclosure) by the "broc" (brook). St George's Church was built by the first resident Norman - Lord of the Manor, Roger de Chandos. In 1142 It was consecrated and became one of the earliest churches in England to be dedicated to St George. About 1846, the church was renovated at a cost of around £800
Brockworth Court was first inhabited by John Guise, the new Lord of the manor, in 1540. It had just been completed by Richard hart, the last Abbot of Llantony Priory
Brockworth court Tythe barn was build around the 15th century and the size of the barn indicated the wealth of the Lord of the manor at the time – Llantony Priory
Brockworth Mill and Mill farm were situated at the intersection of Mill Lane and Horsebere Brook. The Doomsday book of 1086 records a corn mill in Brockworth. In 1863 Witcombe reservoir was built and hence the Mill stopped working and fell into neglect
Abbotswood Farm is situated on land once owned by the Abbot of Gloucester, hence there was the Abbots Wood at Bocholte
Droys court was on land rented to Henry Le Droy by the Abbot of Gloucester in 1260
Castle Hill has never been proved to have a castle at the top of it
Coopers Hill is the venue for the famous Cheese rolling which started about 2000 years ago to maintain the grazing rights on Coopers Hill common
Ermin Street was built about 2000 years ago by the Romans to connect Gloucester to Cirencester. In 1698 it became the third turnpike (toll) road of England
Green street is also an ancient road (Salt way) thought to have been used to transport salt from Droitwich to the Cotswolds
Gloucester business park used to be an airfield where the first British jet engine aircraft (Gloster E28/39) took flight. It was developed to test the new Whittle jet engine in flight, the test results would influence the development of an operational fighter, the Gloster Meteor

Vicars over the years

1575 Richard SAVAKER
1588 John WHITE
1602 Edward BROWNINGE
1604 Thomas POTTER
1610 James CLIFFORD
1627 Issac PENNINGTON
1654 Mr NEVEL
1660 Mr ROBINSON
1665 John SOMMERS
1713 John LAWRENCE
1726 William JONES
1730 John WALL
1747 George WALL
1757 John CHESTER
1810 Edward JONES
1824 Edward JONES
1847 Georges WATTS
1864 Robert Andrew BACHURST
1871 George ALLEN
1878 Samuel BARTLEET
1886 James Herbert SEABROOK
1941 Donald Ernest LEAVEY
1945 William Stanlet BUBB
1949 Edwin Eustace de Lacy MANN
1954 Lewis Stewart BRUCE
1976 Peter Henry NAYLOR
1995 Martin Michael ENNIS
2004 David Alan GILL
2012 Jane WALDEN
2020 Mike SMITH

British Listed Building

Listed 10 January 1955

For full listing information on St. George's Church visit the British Listed Buildings website.

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