St Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| 52°27′39″N 1°55′02″W / 52.4607°N 1.9171°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Central churchmanship/Conservative Evangelical |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Bartholomew |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Edgbaston |
| Deanery | Edgbaston and Warley |
| Diocese | Birmingham |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston, also known as Edgbaston Old Church, is a special place of worship in Edgbaston, Birmingham. It is part of the Church of England, which is the main Christian church in England. This historic church has been a central part of the local community for many years.
Contents
Discovering St Bartholomew's Church
This church is a very old building, dating back to medieval times. That means it was built hundreds of years ago! It is also a listed building, which means it's officially recognized as an important historical site. While it's old, much of it was rebuilt in the 1800s.
Who Helped Build the Church?
In 1885, a famous architect named J. A. Chatwin added new parts to the church. These included the chancel (the area around the altar), chapels (smaller worship areas), and the north arcade (a row of arches). J. A. Chatwin is buried right in the churchyard. His grave, along with a few others, is also a listed monument.
A Doctor's Special Memorial
Inside the church, you can find a memorial for Dr. William Withering. He was a doctor and a botanist, which means he studied plants. Dr. Withering was famous for being one of the first to use a plant called digitalis (from the foxglove flower) as medicine. The memorial has carvings of foxgloves and another plant named after him, Witheringia solanaceae.
The Church Bells
The church tower holds a set of eight bells. These bells are quite heavy! The oldest four bells were made way back in 1685. Today, students from the Birmingham University Society of Change Ringers ring these bells during term time.
The Church Organ
St Bartholomew's Church has a large and important organ. An early, smaller organ was given to the church in 1837. Later, a bigger organ was built in 1857. This organ has moved around the church a few times.
The Organ's Journey
The current organ was rebuilt in 1956. Sadly, it was badly damaged by rainwater after lead was stolen from the church roof. The community worked hard and raised £70,000 to fix it! In 2012, the organ was rebuilt again and moved to its current spot in the north-east part of the church. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
People Who Played the Organ
Many talented musicians have played the organ at St Bartholomew's Church over the years. Here are some of them:
- John Augustus Sherman
- John Robert Lunn (1846–1847)
- Stephen Samuel Stratton (1867–1875)
- Samuel Bath (until 1877)
- Herbert Walter Wareing (1881–1888)
- Theodore Stephen Tearne (1888–1903)
- Henry Taylor (1903–around 1927)
- Russell Harry Coleman Green (1933–1958)
- Anthony John Cooke (1958–1964)
- A John Flower (1964–1967)
- Michael Jones (1967–1989)
- Bryan Brown (1989–1996)
- Graeme Martin (1996–1997)
- Roland Keen (1997–2007)
- Father Clifton Graham (2007–2010)
- David Griffiths (2010–present)
Important People Buried Here
The churchyard at St Bartholomew's is the final resting place for several notable people.
- John Thackray Bunce, who was an editor for the Birmingham Daily Post newspaper.
- J. A. Chatwin, the architect who helped rebuild parts of the church.
- William Haywood, an architect and city planner. He was also the first Secretary of The Birmingham Civic Society.
- John Pixell, a poet, priest, and composer.
- Joseph Henry Shorthouse, who wrote a famous book called "John Inglesant."
There is also a special grave for Lieutenant Rowland Charles Mason, an officer from the Loyal Regiment who died in World War I. This grave is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Images for kids
-
Grave of church architect J. A. Chatwin
-
War Memorial
