Rochford / Ratheford / Ratchefford / Recesford

There are two entries for Rochford [variant spelling] in the Domesday survey [http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/XX0000/rochford-and-upper-rochford/] [accessed 27 October 2014], but neither mentions a cleric or church in it. Noake (1848) reports a change of hands of the advowson of Tenbury "with the chapels of Rochford and Laysters" in 1543. No entry for Rochford found in Miller (1890). The Victoria County History (Worcester, vol. 4, 1924) notes: "Rochford was formerly a detached part of Herefordshire, but was annexed to Worcestershire by the Acts of 1832 [...] and 1844 [...] Rochford was a chapelry of Tenbury [...] until 3 April 1843 when it became a separate rectory. [...] The chancel and the greater part of the nave date from the early years of the 12th century [...] The altar, font and pulpit are all modern." A plan of the church interior in the VCH (ibid.) shows the modern font at the west end of the nave, just west of the south entranceway. English Heritage [Listing NGR: SO6291868506] (1966) reports: "The stone font on marble columns and the three-sided timber pulpit are both C19". [NB: we have no information on the font of the early-12th century church here]