Carrs Lane Church, Birmingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carrs Lane Church |
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The church in August 2024
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| 52°28′46.62″N 1°53′35.02″W / 52.4796167°N 1.8930611°W | |
| Location | Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | United Reformed and Methodist |
| Previous denomination | Congregational |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Denys Hinton and Partners |
| Groundbreaking | 1968 |
| Completed | 1971 |
Carrs Lane Church, also called The Church at Carrs Lane, is a special church located in Birmingham, England. It is famous for having the biggest free-standing cross in the whole United Kingdom. This church is a place where two different Christian groups, the United Reformed and Methodist churches, come together to worship.
History of Carrs Lane Church
The church started as an independent chapel way back in 1748. It was a place for people to worship freely. In 1812, the church became bigger. This was because many people wanted to hear John Angell James preach. The expansion cost about £2,000 and allowed 600 people to sit inside.
More changes happened in 1820. The architect Thomas Stedman Whitwell designed another enlargement. Later, in 1876, Yeoville Thomason updated the front of the church. In 1832, the church officially joined the Congregational Union.
The building you see today was started in 1968. It was designed by Denys Hinton and Partners. The construction finished in 1971. In 1972, the church became part of the United Reformed Church. This happened when the Presbyterian and Congregational churches joined together.
A special blue plaque was put on the church in 1995. It remembers Dr R. W. Dale. He was a minister at Carrs Lane from 1854 until he passed away. He was also a famous preacher of something called the "Civic Gospel". This idea encouraged Christians to help improve society.
Since the Methodist Central Hall, Birmingham closed, the Methodist community has shared this building. They work together as a "local ecumenical partnership." This means different Christian groups worship and work together in one place.
The Church Organ
Carrs Lane Church has a large pipe organ. It was made by a company called Hill Norman and Beard in 1970. You can find out more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists at Carrs Lane
Many talented musicians have played the organ at Carrs Lane Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- Samuel Stanley (composer) (1792 - 1803)
- Adam Wright (1845 - 1876)
- William C. Stockley (1876 - 1889)
- Walter Humphreys (1889 - 1895)
- C.H. Pett (1895 - 1901)
- Maurice Davies (1901 - ????)
- R.A. Ernest Payne (???? - 1915)
- Charles William Perkins (1915 - 1920)
- Graham Godfrey (1920 - 1930)
- Cyril Stanley Christopher (1930 - 1967)
