Rugby’s MP Mark Pawsey discovered one of the town’s hidden treasures on Wednesday afternoon in the form of St Michael’s & All Angels Church in ‘Old’ Brownsover. This quaint little Church lies hidden from view just off Brownsover Lane sheltered, behind tall trees, from the gazes of a largely unknowing Rugby public.
The Church was declared redundant in 1987 and is maintained by The Churches Conservation Trust but at one time served the little parish of ‘Old’ Brownsover. In 1876/1877 Sir George Gilbert Scott rebuilt the church at the request of Allesley Boughton-Leigh and the floor of the chapel holds an inscription for the grave of John Howkins (1579-1678), the great nephew of Lawrence Sheriff, founder of Rugby School.
Invited to view the church by Sheila Stone of The Churches Conservation Trust Mark Pawsey MP commented
“It’s actually quite amazing. It’s a real hidden gem here in Rugby which I didn’t know existed! After walking the lengths and breadths of the constituency during my election campaign and having lived here in Rugby all my life I was surprised to find out about this little church which I just never knew was here.”