[2] The church was part of St Michael's College, a boys' school founded by Sir Frederick Ouseley in 1856.

[2][5][6] Sir John Betjeman wrote: "Sir Frederick was concerned to train boys who as organists and choristers would be able to maintain the tradition of English cathedral church music.... Ouseley intended St. Michael’s to be what it is—the parish church of the district, with a resident choir and organist supplied from the College attached to it.

[7] John Stainer (1840–1901) was selected by Ouseley to be organist of the church, and was resident for two years from 1857.

Stainer, later organist of St Paul's Cathedral, considered his success as a church musician to be largely due to this period at Tenbury.

Original features include the altar rail, choir stalls, chancel screen, stone pulpit and tiled floors; also the limestone font which has a tall oak cover.