One of the items to be found in the parish chest in St James Church, Badsey, was this leather-bound book with beautiful writing, about the restoration of the church in 1885 and subsequent additions of new bells, clock and a memorial cross. A letter from Julius Sladden to his daughter, Kathleen, on 4th May 1904, confirms that the parchment pages were created in 1904: "The parchment records of the Church restoration has come it is really beautifully done with illuminated headings altogether it is quite a work of art and Mr Savory is delighted with it, it is certainly very cheap at 35/-." Page 18 concerning the erection of the memorial cross in 1910 was obviously added in at a later date. The book will in due course be taken to The Hive at Worcester for safe keeping but we have taken the opportunity to reproduce the pages here (with transcription) for all to see.
