Knowle Parish Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Knowle Parish Church
Knowle Parish Church
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Location	Knowle, West Midlands
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	kpc.org.uk
History
Dedication	St John the Baptist, St Lawrence and St Anne
Consecrated	24 February 1403
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Administration
Parish	Knowle
Deanery	Solihull
Archdeaconry	Aston
Diocese	Birmingham

Knowle Parish Church is a beautiful old church located in Knowle, West Midlands, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is very special because it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is considered one of the most important historic buildings in the country.

A Look at Knowle Parish Church History

How Old is the Church?

This amazing church was built a very long time ago, in the 15th century. That means it's over 600 years old! It is believed that the church was officially opened and ready for services on February 24, 1403.

The College at the Church

In 1416, a special "college" was started at the church. This wasn't a school like we think of today. Instead, it was a place where priests lived and studied. This college was part of the church for many years, until 1547.

Unique Features of the Church

Knowle Parish Church has some interesting parts. It is known for its tall chancel, which is the area around the altar where the choir sits. It also has a special "processional subway." This was a hidden path that went from one side of the church to the other, likely used for processions during services.

Changes Over the Years

For a long time, from 1403 until 1858, Knowle Parish Church was like a smaller "daughter church" to a bigger church in Hampton. This meant it was connected to and supported by the Hampton church.

The church has been repaired and updated several times.

• In 1860, it had a big restoration to fix things up.
• Another major restoration happened in 1900. This project cost about £1,000, which was a lot of money back then!
• During the 1900 restoration, a new room was built for the organ. A new space was also created for the clergy (the church leaders) and the choir.
• The organ and choir, which used to be in the north transept (a part of the church that sticks out), were moved to the north side of the chancel.
• An area called the north chapel was opened up more to the main part of the church.
• Old wooden seats, called stalls, were moved from the end of the south aisle (a side passage) to the choir area. These changes were overseen by an architect named J.A. Chatwin.

Music at the Church

The Church Organ

The church has a beautiful organ that was built by Walter James Bird. Organs are large musical instruments that make sound using air flowing through pipes. You can find more details about this specific organ on the National Pipe Organ Register website.

The Church Bells

Knowle Parish Church has a set of eight bells. Three of these bells were made in 1931. The other five bells were remade in 1979. All of the bells were made by a company called John Taylor, located in Loughborough. These bells are rung for services and special occasions.