The Manse: once the Methodist Rectory

As early as 1926 there had been a suggestion that a house should be provided for the Methodist minister. Ministers at that time had rooms in one of the houses in the village.  A bequest in the will of John Taylor was used as a start when in 1952 the plans for amounts were approved and site bought.

In 1952 a garden party was held at Mickleton House, by kind permission of Mr. J. Webb, to help raise funds for Mickleton Manse.

‘Over £364 was cleared. The fete was opened by Rev. and Mrs. W. Russell Shearer. Mr. Shearer being the chairman of the Birmingham Methodist District. 

During the afternoon and evening the Avonbank Methodist Band and the Birch Grove Methodist Sisterhood Choir, of Cardiff, entertained.

The success of the event was due, in the main part to the fine leadership of the Rev. T. Rowland Hill ( assistant minister to Evesham) and Mrs Hill.’

Source: Western Standard and West Midland Observer June 1952

The house was occupied in 1953, and the junior minister of the Evesham circuit lived in Mickleton. Other Methodist Ministers who lived in The Manse were  Rev Birnie c.1966, George Bulmer Fish ( 1970-72),  and Donald Taylor ( 1977-83).

In April 2023 the house was sold when dwindling congregations at the Methodist Chapel meant the Rectory was no longer required by the Circuit and Trustees.