John Rawlins, who was a native of Oxford, appears to have been a self-made man. Said to be an Anglican of Catholic sympathies, he was one of the Justices of the Peace for Worcestershire and Rector of Leigh with Bransford. He became Vicar of Badsey and of Wickhamford on 20th March 1730 (according to the Julian calendar).
Rev. Rawlins was also, from 1742 to 1752, Headmaster of Evesham Grammar School. He was also Rector of Leigh with Bransford (1752-1755 and again 1769-1784) and Rector of Haselton with Yanworth (1750-1785). He was buried at Badsey on 6th November 1784, aged 77 years.
A son of his, who graduated from Christ-Church in 1768 and afterwards went to Merton College (probably as Fellow), held the Merton living of Ponteland, in Northumberland, from 1788 until his death in 1811.
Nearly two centuries later, the Reverend Peter Braby (Vicar of Badsey and Wickhamford, 1958-1973), wrote an article in the Parish Magazine about his predecessor.
