ABBERLEY. 3

better wines at a low price from France, or employ their lands to greater advantage by growing corn.

From a return made to a visitation of Doddingtree Hundred, by order of Cromwell, in 1656, the spiritual affairs of Abberley appear in this description :-" A rectory in the presentation, as we suppose, of one Mr. Joseph Walsh, esquier, whose ancestors were wont to p'sent. That our p'sent minister is one Mr. John Dedicott an able constant preacher of the word and a man of unblameble life and co'versation. Profits of the rectory £50, which wd be more if the lord of the manor had not detained some of them. Only an acre of glebe."

The living is now valued at £300; it is in the diocese of Hereford ; population, about 700; acreage, 2,000; Rev. J. L. Moilliet is rector. There are about four acres of glebe. Joseph Jones, Esq., is lord of the manor, which extends over the parishes of Roek, Bayton, Alton, Shelsley, and Astley. The court is still held at Bewdley, Mr. John Bury being the steward. Mr. Jones is also the principal landowner.

The old church of Abberley dated from the Early Norman v period, but becoming greatly dilapidated, in the year 1850 - its wooden spire leaning inwards, from the massive but rent old tower, and with every gale threatening " hideous fall" on the body of the building - was taken down; and after consultation it was thought the old church was " too bad to mend." Mr. Moilliet thereupon set himself to the work of founding a new church, and the site chosen was in a commanding position not far from the old one. The first stone was laid by Miss Moilliet, on the 27th July, 1850, and the consecration took place on the same day of 1852. Mr. Cole, of London, was the architect; Mr. James Davis, of Birmingham, the builder; style, Early English; 400 sittings; cost, about £7,000, nearly the whole of which was provided By the Moilliet family. The old church is still standing, its chancel being used as a mortuary chapel.

There is a charity here, founded and supported by the Walsh and Bromley families. The lord of the manor, the