Avenbury Church

The Avenbury Church before it was abandoned in the 1930s

Thomas Morgan III and Ann Watkins were married April 17th, 1843 at the Parish Church of St. Mary at Avenbury. James Watkins, the father of Ann Watkins, signed the marriage entry as a witness. Ann, who apparently could not read or write, made her X mark and next to it are the words "Her mark." The Avenbury church, like all Herefordshire parish churches, resides in its graveyard nestled into a meander of the River Frome about one mile south of Bromyard. It is an old church, parts of it dating back 900 years, and was an important institution in its earlier years, having been one of only nine superior churches in Herefordshire in 1086. However, it was closed and abandoned in the 1930s and was in ruins in 2003. The nave (center part) is mostly gone and only three partial walls of the chancel (east enclosure) remain, but most of the skeleton of the more interesting West Tower still stands. Morgan family members who are interested in family history will find a visit to the ruins of the Avenbury church very rewarding.

The ruined West Tower of the Avenbury Church as it looked in 2003

Thomas and Ann Morgan in Herefordshire page 10

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