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Immanuel Church, Birmingham facts for kids

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Immanuel Church, Birmingham
52°28′28″N 1°54′55″W / 52.47444°N 1.91528°W / 52.47444; -1.91528
Location Birmingham
Country England
Denomination Church of England
History
Dedication Immanuel
Consecrated 16 May 1865
Architecture
Architect(s) Edward Holmes
Style Decorated Gothic
Completed 1865
Construction cost £4,600
Closed 1964
Demolished 1964
Specifications
Capacity 1,000 people
Length 92.5 feet (28.2 m)
Width 44 feet (13 m)

Immanuel Church, Birmingham was an important Church of England church in the city of Birmingham, England. It was also known as St Thomas and Immanuel, Birmingham later in its history. This church served its community for many years before it was taken down.

The Church's Story

Building a New Church

Immanuel Church was built where an older building, the Magdalen Chapel, once stood. A talented architect named Edward Holmes designed the church. It was officially opened and blessed on May 16, 1865. The Bishop of Worcester led the special ceremony. A new church area, called a parish, was created for Immanuel Church. This new area was taken from the parish of St Thomas' Church, Bath Row.

Times of Change and Closure

In 1939, Immanuel Church was closed for a while. Its parish joined with the nearby St Thomas' Church, Bath Row. However, St Thomas' Church was badly damaged during a bombing raid in 1940. Because of this, Immanuel Church was opened again to serve the community.

The church continued to operate for some more years. But eventually, it closed for good and was taken down around 1964. A special stone basin used for baptisms, called a font, was saved. It was moved to St Mary's Church, Wythall where it is still used today.

The Church Organ

A Musical Instrument

Immanuel Church had a beautiful pipe organ. This large musical instrument was made by a company called Bird. Pipe organs are very complex and can make many different sounds. They are often used in churches for music during services.

Where the Organ Went

When Immanuel Church closed, its organ was moved. It found a new home at St Faith and St Laurence's Church, Harborne. This means the music of the old Immanuel Church continued to be heard in another place.

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