Pamela Hurle's informative talk, augmented with slides, emphasised the importance of the church in relation to current issues of the day.

Beginning with medieval times when the church was all-powerful, and spiritual needs overflowed into politics, St Leonard's 14th Century wooden church at Newland was the earliest mentioned; the chancel of this early church remains.

Malvern has two important medieval buildings, the Priories of Great Malvern and Little Malvern, both Benedictine originally. Various notable elements of these buildings were mentioned.

After Henry VIII's dissolution of monasteries, the stronghold of the church lessened, and the Church of England went through a long period of deterioration. However, there was resurgence during the 19th and early 20th Centuries. During this time most of the churches in Malvern were built, a number of them by notable architects, or embracing important artifacts. Various were named including St Gabriel's, Hanley Swan and St Matthais, Malvern Link, both designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in 1873 and 1844, St Mary's, Madresfield by Preedy in 1866, All Saints, The Wyche by Troyte Griffith in 1902, and Sir Walter Tapper's Church of the Ascension in 1903.

Important families such as the Beauchamps had considerable input. The Arts and Craft influence evident in the ornately embellished Madresfield Court Chapel, and the frescoes of St Leonard's, Newland are examples.

This talk, which was specially commissioned for the Autumn in Malvern Festival, is complemented by Pamela Hurle's booklet Malvern Churches in their Historical Context.

Jill Hopkins

n Also part of the festival, last Saturday Norwegian and English Day at Robson Ward's welcomed visitors with an interesting array of Norwegian posters at their entrance, and within, wine and finger buffet delicacies typical of those in Norway were served.

Easy-on-the-ear music courtesy of Finesse, a duo of Nikki (cello) and Andrew Kristy (piano), included Wedding Day at Troldhaugen by Grieg in their repertoire.

Earlier in the day Ken Russell's film of Elgar, re-released recently, and including archive material of Elgar himself in action, was shown at Malvern Theatres.