Church of St Andrew, Netherton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Andrew's, Netherton |
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| Parish Church of Saint Andrew | |
St Andrew's church is situated on top of Netherton Hill
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| 52°29′27″N 2°05′33″W / 52.4908°N 2.0925°W | |
| OS grid reference | SO 93820 88098 |
| Location | Netherton, West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 1830 |
| Dedication | Saint Andrew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II Listed |
| Designated | 1 August 1997 |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Lee |
| Style | Early English |
| Years built | 1827-1830 |
| Construction cost | £8,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Gornal stone, brick |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Netherton; St. Andrew |
| Archdeaconry | Dudley |
| Diocese | Worcester |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Andrew, Netherton is a special Anglican church located in Netherton, a town in the West Midlands area of England. It was designed by an architect named Thomas Lee and first opened its doors in 1830. Later, in 1844, it became the main church for the Netherton area.
Contents
The Church's Story
Netherton, like many industrial towns in the Black Country, used to have many different types of churches. However, it didn't have an Anglican church until 16 July 1830. On that day, St Andrew's was officially opened by the Lord Bishop of Worcester.
Building the Church
The first stone for the church was placed on 30 November 1827. This was done by Dr. Booker, who was the Vicar of Dudley. The building was designed by Thomas Lee. It was a special type of church called a Commissioners' church, which meant the government helped pay for it.
The church was built in a style called Early English. It cost about £8,000 to finish. The land where the church stands was given by the Earl of Dudley.
Early Years and Changes
The churchyard has graves for many people who died during a cholera outbreak. This sad event happened in Dudley in 1831 and 1832.
At first, St Andrew's was just a smaller church connected to St Thomas's in Dudley. It became Netherton's main parish church on 1 December 1844. The first vicar, Rev. F.S. Bradshaw, started his role in 1845.
Updates and Repairs
The church was repaired and updated in 1862. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, new items were added inside. These included a font (for baptisms), an alabaster reredos (a decorated screen behind the altar), a pulpit (where sermons are given), a metal screen, and a lectern (a stand for reading).
In February 1908, a tall decorative part of the church, called a pinnacle, was blown off. This caused about £300 worth of damage to the west side of the church. A new room, called a vestry, was added to the east end of the church in 1938. Today, the building is recognized as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's historically important.
Where the Church Stands
St Andrew's Church is located on Netherton Hill. This is the highest point in Netherton. The church is surrounded by many old gravestones. These belong to people who used to live in the area. You can enter the church mainly from Highbridge Road.
What the Church Looks Like
Experts have said that St Andrew's is a great example of a Commissioners' church that hasn't changed much over time. It was built in the Early English style. The church is made of brick, but it has a special stone covering called Gornal stone (which is a type of sandstone). Its roof is made of slate. At the west end of the church, there is a tall tower with four decorative pinnacles.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church is about 98 feet long and 54 feet wide. It has a balcony, or gallery, on the north, west, and south sides. The church organ is located in the north-east part of this gallery. Strong iron pillars support the gallery.
The church still has its original wooden box pews, which are like enclosed seating areas. The oak altar, which is the main table in the church, was designed by the vicar, S.J. Marriot. It was put in place on New Year's Eve in 1887.
The clock in the tower was made by Bensons of London. Part of the money to buy this clock came from sports events held at the nearby Netherton Cricket Ground.
Church Leadership
St Andrew's Church is part of the Diocese of Worcester. A diocese is an area managed by a bishop. The church is under the authority of the Bishop of Dudley, who is Canon Graham Usher. The Archdeacon of Dudley is the Venerable Nikki Groarke. The current vicar, who leads the church, is Rev Richard Hackett.
