LEDBURY ANGLICANS (IN EXILE)

Malvern lies at the foot of the Malvern Hills, just on the border of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Companies of "Malvern men" have occasionally made their presence known in the Herefordshire VBCW - one thinks of the bodyguards of Emperor Hailie Selassie, by way of example, or the shadowy body known as the "Malvern Hills Conservators", who have fought both against and (more recently) for the Crown. Another such company is that body of Ledbury Anglican fighters (in exile) known as "The Company of Saint Michael", lead by Major Bernard Temple-Meades (retired).

Originally from Malvern, Temple-Meades' Anglicans "retired in a forward direction" (aka "jumped over the Hills") to Ledbury at the very beginning of the VBCW, joining the congregation of St. Michael and All Angels in devout worship and adopting an appropriate name and standard:

The standard of the Company of St. Michael. Cross of St. George with Anglican quarter
and a representation of the stained glass to be found within the church of St. Michael and All Angels. 

Temple-Meades' tactical re-location appeared wise, for Malvern, at the start of the VBCW, was not a good place to be anti-King or anti-Government. With the King designating nearby Madresfield Court as his "summer residence" (and re-locating a sizeable protection force of Guards there) and armed Royalist elements (including British Fascisti and, dependent upon what they had been drinking that Friday night, the Malvern Hills Conservators) making their presence felt in town, being a "militant Anglican" in Malvern was really not a good idea. 

 

Unfortunately, Temple-Meades' Ledbury refuge swiftly became a focal point of the early Herefordshire VBCW (see the First and the Second Battles of Ledbury) and, upon its capture by HMG Forces (and the imprisonment of the Bishop of Hereford), the Company of St. Michael were forced into renewed exile, becoming a "Free Company", roving around from their "secret location" in the Malvern Hills, living off the land and conducting daring raids against Government Forces.

It is said that, in this capacity, Major Temple-Meades was a "key backroom player" in the intensive diplomatic activities that resulted in the recent pact between the Anglicans and the Independent Republic of Bromyard, resulting in the foundation of the "Three Counties Co-Prosperity Sphere". Deciding that such "co-prosperity" actually meant consuming a good deal of chocolate, Temple-Meades' "Company of St. Michael" then took up a key position for an assault on the Cadbury's Factory at Marlbrook:

Captain Temple-Meades (ret.) and the HQ Section of the
Company of St. Michael.

Notes: many thanks to Dave for the photos and original text, and with best wishes from the Bishops of Ludlow and Lichfield for the Spring Big Game 2023!