Amblecote is a Difficult One... Ecclesiastically it was a hamlet of Old Swinford (except that *it* was in Staffordshire, while all the rest was in Worcestershire) until 1845 when it became a separate Ecclesiastical Parish in its own right (and which included Wollaston, in Worcestershire). Its church was Holy Trinity (Licensed in 1842; Consecrated in 1844) according to the 1851 Census of Religious Worship This would be the church of 'your' marriage. The parish was split in 1860, when Wollaston St James was founded. As for the rest of Old Swinford, that was further subdivided by 1881, leaving: Old Swinford St Mary - the original 'mother' church 1839 - Lye Christ Church 1861 - Stourbridge St John the Evangelist 1866 - Stourbridge St Thomas 1873 - Stamber Mill St Mark Civilly it was a part of Oldswinford (note the different spelling) but was transferred to Worcestershire from Staffordshire as recently as 1966, only to disappear into the Unlamented "County of West Midlands" in 1973. Gus ----- Original Message ----- From: cathy miller <geniemom_cathymiller@yahoo.com> To: <ENG-WORCESTER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 2:58 AM Subject: [WOR] Amblecote in parish of Old Swinford? > Help, just received a copy of a marriage from the GRO. It says that the marriage was solemnized at Amblecote in the Parish of Old Swinford in the counties of Stafford & Worc. I've been searching for more information on this parish. Is it correct to presume that Old Swinford would have been the larger town with the church and that it is now called Stourbridge? Oh, btw, the marriage was in 1857 if this helps for a time frame. Now I have located something else to confuse me, Is the parish church for Amblecote St.Mary's, St. Thomas or Holy Trinity? I'm really getting confused and could use some tutoring please. >