The William Smith Plaque 2015

william smith sign

CurryFundLogo2William Smith, Father of English Geology, was born in Churchill in 1769 and we are delighted to have installed a plaque at Smith's birthplace, thanks to the generous support of The Curry Fund.  

The plaque was unveiled on 22 March 2015 by Professor Hugh Torrens.

We have also been working with the Oxford University Museum of Natural History to commemorate the bicentenary of William Smith's famous geological map of England and Wales.

This is a significant partnership and we are delighted to be celebrating the heritage of the villages of Churchill and Sarsden with this important focus on William Smith in 2015

We have been working on a new exhibition for some time – the Heritage Centre has always boasted of its four important ‘sons’ but now it is time for the women of the village to be celebrated.  Each in her own way has changed lives both in Churchill and in the wider world.

OUR Four remarkable women

 Elizabeth Bourne (1549-1599)
Who controversially petitioned for divorce from her philandering husband and left letters which are now considered a most significant and valuable historical source of early modern literature and inform a greater understanding of women’s negotiations for legal autonomy in the sixteenth century.
A seventeenth-century eccentric

Anne Walter (Unknown – 1707)
Who lived in fear of being murdered but left a trust which is still providing grants for education purposes.
A nineteenth-century grocer

Emily Jennings (1814-1885)
Whose legacy launched a village charity.
A twentieth-century High Sheriff

Judy Hutchinson (1916-1989)
Whose secret war work has never been fully acknowledged.

From Our Guest Book

  • "A fascinating display in a very beautiful setting."

  • "Congratulations to all on this initiative.  So well-organised and user-friendly."

  • "Why haven't we been here earlier? We shall certainly return!"

  • "What a lovely treat to stumble upon. Thank you for preserving a part of our Heritage"

  • "Excellent to have this centre as a focus for Churchill's history - especially in relation to William Smith."

  • "Lovely spot, so grateful this part of the old church was saved."

  • "Beautiful setting, very peaceful & informative"

  • "Great building, well restored. Charming!"

  • "Beautiful restoration, very nicely done! Unexpected hive of information."

  • "Very good new interactive displays, very comprehensive."

  • "A fine chance discovery"

  • "Fantastic, absolutely first class. Most interesting and informative."

  • "A fascinating visit. William Smith was a wonderful man! "

  • "Such a wonderful enterprise. The locality should be proud of it."

  • "A little gem I didn't know existed."