Church of the Ascension, Stirchley (II) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Ascension, Stirchley |
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|---|---|
| 52°26′4.5″N 1°54′26.1″W / 52.434583°N 1.907250°W | |
| Location | Stirchley |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Modern Catholic |
| Website | ascensionstirchley.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | The Ascension |
| Consecrated | 14 July 1973 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Romilly Craze |
| Completed | 1973 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | The Ascension Stirchley |
| Deanery | Moseley |
| Archdeaconry | Birmingham |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Birmingham |
The Church of the Ascension, Stirchley is a special parish church located in Stirchley, a part of Birmingham, England. It is a church within the Church of England. This church has an interesting history, especially because its original building was sadly destroyed and a new one was built in its place.
Contents
A Look at the Church's History
The Fire and a New Beginning
The original church building, known as the Church of the Ascension, Stirchley (I), faced a big disaster. On October 29, 1965, it was completely destroyed by a fire. After the fire, the damaged building had to be taken down.
A brand new church was then designed by a famous architect named Romilly Craze. This new church was built right next to its former mission church, St. Hugh's, which was located on Pineapple Grove. The new Church of the Ascension was officially opened and blessed by the Bishop of Birmingham on July 14, 1973.
Treasures from the Past
Even though the old church was destroyed, some important and beautiful items were saved from the fire. These special pieces were then used in the new church building. They include:
- Some of the colourful stained glass windows.
- The Stations of the Cross, which are a series of images showing events from the last day of Jesus's life.
- The altar silver, which are special silver items used during church services.
- The processional crosses, which are crosses carried during processions.
- The vestments, which are the special robes worn by the clergy.
After the new church was built, St. Hugh's, the former mission church, became the church hall. This means it's now used for community events and gatherings.
Art and Design in the New Church
The new Church of the Ascension features some amazing artwork.
- A large statue of the Risen Christ was placed on the front of the church. This statue was created by John Bridgeman, a sculptor from Leamington Spa. It was made from fibre glass and cost £600 at the time.
- A beautiful window showing Christ ascending (going up to heaven) was designed by John Lawson. This window was made using a special technique with slab glass and concrete.
- A crucifix, which is a cross with a figure of Jesus on it, was designed by John Skelton.
