Church Micro 7352 . . . Birdlip Multi-cache

A small Camouflaged Tub, that could take small TBs/Coins. No Pen!

The published coordinates are the Information Waypoint - see below!

I just could not resist this; perhaps I should have but here it is. I fell for this tiny, unassuming little church, which I never knew existed.
So - enraptured, off I go on a sunny, cold morning, (travelling on the 852 Gloucester to Cirencester bus), to find snow on the ground and nothing but peace and quiet - apart from the sheep!

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This is the motto on the single bell of the little Cotswold stone church of St. Mary’s Birdlip.
You can find the church on the right hand side of the Brimpsfield road, just as you leave the village.
This church was built to replace an earlier St. Mary’s which stood opposite “The Lodge” at the entrance to Witcombe Park, off the Stroud Road.
The Mission Church of St. Mary’s was built in 1897. It was a small tin church on a stone footing, painted green. It was beautiful inside, lined with polished wooden boards and lovingly cared for.

On St. George’s Day, 1954, the church caught fire, although the cause remains unknown.
By the time the fire service arrived from Cheltenham, virtually all was lost; the stained glass window was shattered; and the bell fell down; only the silver chalice was recovered.
It was decided to raise the money to build a new church in stone.
The new church was built to the designs of Major Stratton Davis; the bell cast by Taylor of Loughborough; and some of the internal work was done by voluntary labour in the village.
The church was at last finished early in 1958.
The new church of St. Mary’s was consecrated by The Right Reverend The Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Dr. W.M.Askwith, on Saturday 29th March 1958.
Since then the little church has continued to play an important part in the life of the Birdlip Village.

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