THE foundation stone for the Anglican Church in the Wyche was laid a century ago.

Performing the ceremony was Countess Beauchamp, who was accompanied by the Earl.

The Malvern Gazette reported: "The ceremony was fixed for half-past three, but fully half-an-hour before the time there was a large gathering assembled around the spot where the foundation stone was to be placed. The weather was bright and clear but bitterly cold, an east wind blowing right across the common.

"The place was gay with flags and bunting and the walls of the playground adjacent were draped in tricolour."

The event was attended by numerous clergymen and, following prayers and hymns, the architect, Mr A T Griffith, presented the countess with a bronze trowel with a silver figure on the handle.

The countess laid the foundation stone, after which the Vicar of Malvern, Canon Pelly, addressed the meeting.

"The need for a consecrated Church at the Wyche has long been apparent," commented the Gazette. "At present, public worship is conducted in the school, which means that each Saturday it has to be converted, as near as possible, into a place suitable for Sunday services, and on Monday rearranged again for educational purposes.

"The population, with a small exception, consists of what is called the working class, and most of the men, and many of the women, are employed in Malvern and the adjoining districts.

"These people, however interested in the church - and they have shown themselves to be sincerely so - are too poor to do much towards providing the money needed, and the cause was deemed a worthy one for appeal to their richer brethren in Malvern. It is confidently hoped that the required balance will be subscribed when the church is an established fact."