St David's Church, Shenley Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St David's Church, Shenley Green |
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St David's Church, Shenley Green
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| 52°25′34″N 1°58′25″W / 52.4260°N 1.9735°W | |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | stdavidsshenleygreen.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | St David |
| Consecrated | 9 May 1970 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Selby Clewer |
| Groundbreaking | 1 March 1969 |
| Construction cost | £55,000 (equivalent to £612,900 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 1 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Shenley Green |
| Deanery | King's Norton |
| Archdeaconry | Birmingham |
| Diocese | Birmingham |
| Province | Canterbury |
St David's Church, Shenley Green is a parish church of the Church of England. It is located in Shenley Green, a part of Birmingham, England. This church is a special place for people to gather and worship.
Contents
History of St David's Church
Before 1970, church services were held in the church hall. This hall had opened in 1962. The main church building was constructed between 1969 and 1970.
The Journey of the Stones
In February 1969, something very interesting happened. Twelve Scouts from Birmingham went on a special journey. They hauled three stones all the way from St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire. This was a long trip, about 200 miles! The scouts worked in teams of four, pulling a hand cart. The journey took them 56 hours. These special stones were later placed in the new church. They became important foundation and consecration stones.
Church Opening and Design
The church was officially opened on 9 May 1970. It was consecrated by Laurie Brown, who was the Bishop of Birmingham at that time. The church was designed by architects from the Bournville Village Trust. Their work was led by Selby Clewer. A part of the church's area was taken from the nearby St Gabriel's Church, Weoley Castle.
Architecture of the Church
The church has a very noticeable feature: a large lantern tower. This tower helps to light up the inside of the church. It also acts as a landmark that people can see from far away.
The Roof and Special Stones
The church originally had a distinctive green copper roof. However, this roof was replaced between 2011 and 2012. The new roof is made of stainless steel. This change happened after some of the copper sheeting was stolen. The special stones brought by the scouts from St David's Cathedral are still part of the church. They are known as the consecration and dedication stones.
The Church Organ
St David's Church has a pipe organ. It was built in 1970 by a company called Bowen from Northampton. Later, in 1999, the organ was made even bigger. This work was done by Trevor Tipple from Worcester. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Past Leaders of the Church
Here is a list of the vicars who have led St David's Church:
- David Pendleton, from 1959 to 1989
- Chris Jackson, from 1989 to 2001
- Nick Evans, from 2002 to 2015
- Mark Bennett, from 2016 to 2020
