Event Description
Discover St Mary’s Church, Ripple, a Grade I- listed 12th century church set in an historic parish. Tours of the church and bell tower are on offer, along with the chance to see 15th century carved misericords, a rare ‘She’ Bible, Sealed Knot Society Civil War display, the Ripple Giant and more.
St Mary’s Church, Ripple is the largest medieval church in the county of Worcestershire. It’s home to one of Britain’s best collections of misericords – 16 intricately carved seats from the 15th century. St Mary’s also boasts a rare 1613 ‘She’ Bible, with other known copies in Exeter, Salisbury and Durham Cathedrals and at Oxford and Cambridge. Other notable features include early Victorian Chamberlain tiles, six bells by John Rudhall from 1807, and a Victorian stained glass window by Ernest Heasman, a pupil of Kempe. The grave of Robert Reeve, The Ripple Giant, bears the epitaph ‘As you pass by behold my length but never glory in your strength’, the meaning of which will be explained to visitors.
As well as taking a tour of this Grade I-listed building, Heritage Open Days visitors will have the chance to interact with members of the Sealed Knot Society, the UK’s oldest English Civil War re-enactment society, which has St Mary’s as its ‘home’ church. Come and see how St Mary’s Church, Ripple is ‘rippling’ with life and how we plan to use architecture to bring this historic building up to date.
Visit for Heritage Open Days between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September 2025.
