Building Structure
The original building
The original twelfth century church was a late Norman building consisting probably of nave, transept and chancel, with a low tower over the crossing. Only the barest fragments remain today, the scalloped capital ant shaft to the left of the entrance door forming part of the original nave arcade, and a very small fragment on the opposite (south) side into which in the fifteenth century the Perpendicular doorway leading to the cloister was inserted.
The building as it exists now
The rest of the nave has entirely disappeared, though from the style of the now existing building, it is evident that the twelfth century church had been rebuilt in the last quarter of the fourteenth century. It was intended then to rebuild the nave, proof of which is to be found in the completeness of the west arch of the Tower, moulded, as it is both inside and outside. Apparently this work was never carried out, but as a result of recent excavation in the nineteen-sixties, it is interesting to see how far west the original building actually extended. The actual west end of the Church was more or less in a line with the present front door of the Court, the Tower being almost equidistant between it and the extreme east end.
Excavation has also revealed the foundations of the cloister, which ran to the southwest corner of the Monastic building and terminated in the original entrance to the Prior’s Hall.
As it is today, the Church consists only of the space beneath the Tower and the Choir of the formerly cruciform building, which now together form the ‘nave’ and the chancel of the present Church. The transepts and Chapels became ruined and were walled off, probably in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century.
Bishop Alcock’s restoration
In 1480 Bishop Alcock (of Worcester) made a visitation to Little Malvern Priory and found the church in such a state of disrepair that he orderd it to be restored. Apart from having thoroughly restored, or as he said ‘builded’ this Church, Bishop Alcock (whose coat-of-arms — a mitre and cocks’ heads — can be seen in the tracery of the east window) appears to have inserted the arches to the east of the transept arches, between the present ‘nave’ and the now ruined lateral Chapels.
He also strengthened the tall windows on either side of the sanctuary by inserting the Perpendicular transoms halfway down. Notice the beautiful rectilinear tracery in the head of each window.
He built the east window and filled it with stained glass, said to have been made by the same craftsmen as those who made the glass at Great Malvern, and ranking next to York Minster in its excellence. He also probably made the two, now walled up, doorways on either side of the Altar for a processional way. Beyond this may have been the Lady Chapel, although in a building of this size, there is more likely to have been a Vestry.
It would be tempting to assign to Bishop Alcock the building of the top stage of the tower with its fine panelling, but it is believed to be work of a period earlier than his restoration. It seems that after the Dissolution the tower was to have been demolished, and that a start had actually been made by removing the pinnacles and parapets, the bases of which are still in situ, but that the work was stopped. The present roof was put up later to repair the damage already done to the tower. The wall plates and principals of the original roof, at a much lower pitch, still remain under the present roof.
20th Century Improvement
Although the South Choir Chapel is now a ruin, it would appear that it was still in a good state at least up to the beginning of the eighteenth century when “that learned Antiquary, Thomas Habington” gave a detailed account of the glass in the windows in his “Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of Worcester” (1717).
For years, the ancient building has been the parish church in a backwater of the County. Bishop Alcock’s rebuilding lasted nearly five hundred years but, by the end of the last war, the church was again in need of urgent repair. The Society of Friends of the Priory was formed in 1954 and, since then, through the efforts of all concerned, clergy and laity alike, the church has been provided with a new porch, the windows have been repaired, the walls stripped of their plaster, the tower roof replaced, the stonework made good and the vestry refurbished.
Little Malvern Priory
View from the north east showing the tower and remaining church.
The original twelfth century church was a late Norman building consisting probably of nave, transepts and chancel, with a low tower over the crossing.
In the fifteenth century the Perpendicular doorway leading to the cloister was inserted.
The rest of the nave has entirely disappeared, though from the style of the now existing building, it is evident that the twelfth century church had been rebuilt in the last quarter of the fourteenth century.
The Nave
Originally the chancel, now forms both the nave and chancel, with a rood screen dividing the two.
Monks Stalls
Medieval monks stalls in the choir also showing the 15th century tiled floor.
The Altar
The altar in the east end of the priory, showing the two blocked up doors which may have led to a lady chapel or vestry.
East Window
The glazing of the east window in Little Malvern Priory is of English late medieval glass painting, highly rated in both its imagery and craftsmanship. Click on the link to find out more.
Looking back down the Nave
Showing the west door and organ loft.
About the Organ
The organ in Little Malvern Priory is one of the musical gems of Worcestershire. It was built by the London firm of William Hill & Sons for a Mrs. and Miss Walker who lived at Rock House in Little Malvern. At a time when there were two good local firms (John Nicholson in Worcester and Eustace Ingram in Hereford), the choice of a major London firm demonstrates that the Walkers’ had both high aspirations and the financial means at the time.
This simple instrument enjoys a perfect west gallery position, from where its beautiful sound has provided the musical backdrop for the last 135 years. Although modest in size, there is nothing diminutive about the quality of construction. This would have been one of the finest organs of its size that money could have bought at that time.
Nicholson & Co undertook a comprehensive restoration of the organ during 2018 and 2019 and we are pleased to say that it has been restored to its former glory and has gained a Class 2 listing (the highest rating of any organ in Worcestershire).
In the last few years we have been lucky enough to have recitals by several fine organists, including James Lancelot, Iain Simcock and Andrew Caskie.