Church of the Ascension, Stirchley (I) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Ascension, Stirchley |
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|---|---|
| 52°25′41.8″N 1°55′21.8″W / 52.428278°N 1.922722°W | |
| Location | Stirchley, West Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | The Ascension |
| Consecrated | 30 October 1901 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | William Hale |
| Groundbreaking | 1898 |
| Completed | 1901 |
| Closed | 29 October 1965 |
The Church of the Ascension in Stirchley was a special church that served the local community in Stirchley, Birmingham. It was part of the Church of England and stood for many years, from 1901 until 1965.
Contents
The Church's Beginning
The building of the Church of the Ascension started in 1898. It was the very first church built in the Stirchley area. The church was finished in 1901. On October 30, 1901, a special ceremony took place. The Bishop of Coventry officially dedicated the church.
The church was designed by an architect named William Hale. It was first meant to be a smaller church, called a "chapel-of-ease." It helped the larger St Mary's Church, Moseley nearby. In 1912, the Church of the Ascension got its own official parish. This meant it became a main church for its own area. Its parish was created from parts of the areas covered by St Mary's Church, Moseley and St Nicolas' Church, Kings Norton.
A New Church in the Area
Later, on December 1, 1927, another church opened in Stirchley. This church was named St. Hugh of Lincoln. It was built in Pineapple Grove to serve the Dads Lane Estate.
The Fire and a New Beginning
Sadly, on October 29, 1965, a big fire destroyed the Church of the Ascension. After the fire, the church building had to be taken down. It was a sad day for the community.
However, the story didn't end there! A new church was built right next to St. Hugh's. This new building was designed by an architect named Romilly Craze. It was officially dedicated on July 14, 1973, by the Bishop of Birmingham.
Some important items from the original church were saved from the fire. These items were then used in the new Church of the Ascension. They included beautiful stained glass windows, the Stations of the Cross (pictures showing Jesus's journey), the silver items used for the altar, processional crosses, and special clothes called vestments. The old St. Hugh's church building then became the church hall for the new Church of the Ascension.
You can even find old film footage of the 1965 fire! It was filmed by Associated Television and is kept safe in the Media Archive for Central England.
The Church Organ
The original Church of the Ascension had a large organ. It was built in 1901 by a company called Norman and Beard. You can find details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register. Unfortunately, this organ was also destroyed in the fire in 1965.
