One of the most important people connected with Cradley Church is the Reverend Thomas Bisse. Born in 1675 he was the son of John Bisse, Rector of Oldbury-on-the-Hill near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, and the younger brother of Philip, who was Bishop of Hereford from 1713 to 1721. Thomas was Rector here between 1713 and 1731. He held several other positions in the Diocese of Hereford and became Chancellor of Hereford Cathedral in 1716.

Educated at Oxford, Thomas was a renowned, eloquent and enthusiastic preacher. He often gave sermons at other churches and cathedrals, including St. Paul’s, the Rolls Chapel and St. Margaret’s Westminster, as well as at Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester cathedrals. Some of his sermons were published and have been reprinted many times over the past 300 years, and you can still buy them today.

Thomas loved church music and is famous for his key role in the development of the Three Choirs Festival, which is held each year in turn at Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester Cathedrals. It is the oldest non-competitive music festival in the world.