St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Augustine of Hippo, Edgbaston |
|
|---|---|
Parish Church of St Augustine of Hippo, Edgbaston
|
|
| 52°28′24″N 1°56′45″W / 52.4734°N 1.9459°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholicism |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Augustine of Hippo |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Warley & Edgbaston |
| Archdeaconry | Birmingham |
| Diocese | Birmingham |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Augustine of Hippo is a parish church in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It belongs to the Church of England.
Contents
About St Augustine's Church
St Augustine's Church is located in the middle of a special area called a conservation area. This means the area is protected because of its history and unique character. It is one of the few Anglican churches named after St. Augustine of Hippo. The church is also a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historic building in England, and it's protected by law.
Right in the churchyard, you'll find the Edgbaston War Memorial. This memorial is also a Grade II listed building. It was built in 1921 to remember the soldiers who died in World War I. Later, it was updated to include those who died in World War II.
The History of St Augustine's
By the mid-1800s, the area of Edgbaston was growing, with more houses being built. As the number of people in Edgbaston increased, the Church of England decided to build new churches. Two churches, St. George's and St James's, were built in 1838 and 1852.
In 1864, a rich pen maker named Joseph Gillott lived in Edgbaston. He talked with an architect named J. A. Chatwin about where to build another new church.
Building the Church
After a competition, J. A. Chatwin's design was chosen. He suggested building the church on an "island site" a short distance from Hagley Road. This spot was perfect because the existing churches were not big enough for the 18,000 people living there. People raised £9,000 to build a church dedicated to St Augustine of Hippo.
The first stone of the church was laid on October 14, 1867. The main parts of the church, including the chancel, nave, and aisles, were officially opened on September 12, 1868. The Bishop of Worcester, Mervyn Charles-Edwards, led the ceremony.
The tall tower and spire, which stand 185 feet high, were added in 1876. They cost £4,000 to build and are the tallest in Birmingham.
Church Design and Art
The church building is designed in the Geometric Gothic style. Inside, the chancel ceiling is painted with a striking scene from chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation. The church also has beautiful stained glass windows made by Hardman & Co..
There are many detailed stone carvings inside the church, mostly done by John Roddis. These include a large carving behind the altar called a reredos, which shows the Last Supper based on Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting. The pillars in the main part of the church have unusual carvings at the top, showing the four seasons and the twelve months of the year.
Later Additions
Just before World War II, the South transept (a part of the church that sticks out) was cleared to create a Lady chapel. This chapel was given in memory of Benjamin and Elinor Tilley by their daughter, Elinor Mary Incledon. After the war, a carved wooden screen was added around the chapel. Some of the carvings were done in an Art Nouveau style by Robert Pancheri.
In 1964, a new baptistry (a place for baptisms) was designed by George Pace and built in the North transept. A spacious entrance hall, called a narthex, was added in 1968 to celebrate the church's 100th birthday. This was designed by P. B. Chatwin, the son of the original architect.
Past Leaders of the Church
Many vicars have led St Augustine's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- 1868-1903 The Reverend J. C. Blissard
- 1903-1912 The Venerable Winfrid Oldfield Burrows
- 1912-1923 The Reverend Dr Rosslyn Bruce
- 1923-1929 The Reverend Canon Arthur Gittins Lloyd
- 1929-1938 The Venerable John Harold Richards
- 1938-1949 The Reverend Canon John Cuthbert Lucas
- 1949-1964 The Reverend Canon Cecil Rhodes
- 1965-1977 The Reverend Philip Llewellyn Richards
- 1978-1985 The Reverend John Maxwell Lucas
- 1986-1999 The Reverend Raymond Franklin Price
- 2000- The Reverend Matthew Tomlinson
Music at St Augustine's
The church is well-known for its choir and musical traditions. It was the first Anglican church in Birmingham to have a choir that wore surplices (a type of white robe). Famous musicians like Alfred Robert Gaul and Sir William Henry Harris have been Masters of Music here.
The famous composer Herbert Howells wrote a special piece called 'St Augustine's Service' for the choir in 1967. The choir performed this challenging piece again on October 13, 2013, as part of the church's Dedication Festival. You can listen to it online: "St Augustine's Service – 13th October 2013".
The Church Organ
The church has an organ built by Hill, with later work by Rothwell and Nicholson. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Music Directors
Many talented people have led the music at St Augustine's Church:
- Alfred Robert Gaul 1868 – 1913
- Sir William Henry Harris 1913 – 1919
- Thomas William North 1919 – 1955
- Philip Moore 1956 – 1960
- Roy Massey 1960 – 1965
- Derek Williams 1965 – 1972
- Philip Godden 1973 – 1975
- Nigel Argust 1975 – 1979
- Norman Dyson 1979 – 1987
- Christopher Harker 1985 – 2004
- Darren Hogg 2004 – 2008
- Paul Richards 2008 – 2012
- Thomas Keogh 2012 to 2015
- Sarah Fox 2016
- David Whitehead 2016 to 2020
- Harvey J. Stansfield 2021-2022
See also
- List of works by George Pace
