St Asaph's Church, Birmingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Asaph’s Church, Birmingham |
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|---|---|
| 52°28′17.3″N 1°54′9.1″W / 52.471472°N 1.902528°W | |
| Location | Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Asaph |
| Consecrated | 8 December 1868 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Yeoville Thomason |
| Style | Decorated gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 22 August 1867 |
| Completed | 1868 |
| Construction cost | £7,000 |
| Closed | 1949 |
| Demolished | 1961 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 950 persons |
St Asaph's Church, located on Great Colmore Street in Birmingham, was a Church of England parish church. A parish church serves a specific local area, providing a place for people to worship and gather. This church was an important part of its community for many years before it was closed and later taken down.
Building St Asaph's Church
The idea for St Asaph's Church began on August 22, 1867. On this day, the Bishop of Worcester laid the first stone, marking the official start of its construction. The church was designed by a famous architect named Yeoville Thomason. He planned the church to fit on a unique triangular piece of land where Great Colmore Street and South Latimer Street met.
The church was officially opened and blessed on December 8, 1868, by the Bishop of Worcester. This blessing is called a "consecration." Even though the church was ready for services, some parts, like its tall tower and spire, and the upper seating areas (galleries), were not fully finished. The church was kept warm by a special heating system from the London Warming Company. It was lit up at night by gas lights called coronas, made by Brown and Dawning.
The Church's Parish and Final Years
Once the church was built, it was given its own "parish." This means a specific area of Birmingham was assigned to St Asaph's Church for its community members. This new parish was created from a larger area that used to belong to St. Thomas' Church, Birmingham.
Sadly, St Asaph's Church closed its doors in 1949. The church's parish was then combined with the parish of St Luke's Church, Bristol Street, Birmingham. A few years later, in 1961, the building of St Asaph's Church was taken down.
The Church Organ
When St Asaph's Church first opened in 1868, it had a temporary organ for music during services. An organ is a large musical instrument often found in churches, known for its powerful sound. Later, the church bought a permanent organ made by a company called Halmshaw. You can find detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register, which keeps records of church organs.
