St Edburgha's Church, Yardley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Edburgha's Church, Yardley |
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St Edburgha's Church, Yardley
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| 52°28′28″N 1°48′09″W / 52.4745°N 1.8026°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | www.stedburghas.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | Edburga of Winchester |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Yardley, Birmingham |
| Diocese | Birmingham |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Edburgha's Church, also known as Old Yardley Church, is a historic church located in the Yardley area of Birmingham, England. It is a very important building, recognized as a Grade I listed building. This means it has special historical and architectural value. The church is also part of the Old Yardley conservation area, which helps protect its unique character.
Contents
Discovering the History of St Edburgha's Church
This church has a long and interesting past, going back to the 13th century. That's over 700 years ago! It was originally built by Aston Church and was part of the Diocese of Lichfield. The church is named after Edburgha of Winchester, who was the granddaughter of King Alfred the Great.
Who Was Edburgha of Winchester?
Edburgha lived a quiet life as a nun in St Mary's Abbey, Winchester. She passed away in the year 960. Later, in 972, she was made a saint, a process called canonisation. Some of her remains were moved to Pershore Abbey in Worcestershire. This was done when the abbey was restarted as the Abbey of St Mary and St Edburgha. The area of Yardley was originally given to this abbey.
How the Church Grew Over Time
The main part of the church, called the nave, and the north aisle were built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Becket Chapel was also added during this time. The church's tall tower and spire were built in 1461. However, the middle part of the spire was rebuilt in 1898 during a major restoration.
It's thought that the same skilled builder, or master mason, who built the spires at Sheldon and Kings Norton also built St Edburgha's spire. Inscriptions at Sheldon mention a builder named Henry Ulm. They also say the tower there was built in 1461. This fits the timeline for St Edburgha's Church. The church stands about 149 feet (45 meters) tall. For a long time, St. Edburgha's was the only church in Yardley.
Challenges and Repairs Over the Years
In 1926, the church's roof above the nave needed to be replaced. This work took several months, from April to December. During this time, church services were first held outside in the churchyard. But tiny insects called gnats made this difficult! So, the services were then moved indoors to the parish hall.
Unique Features of St Edburgha's Church
St Edburgha's Church has some special and interesting features that you might not expect.
The Tudor Rose Doorway
One unusual feature is a doorway on the north side of the church. Above its archway, you can see carvings of the Tudor rose and a pomegranate. These carvings celebrate the marriage of Prince Arthur, who was King Henry VIII's older brother, to Catherine of Aragon.
Mysterious Marks on the Tower
Another interesting detail is found at the base of the church tower. There are scraped marks carved into the stone. No one knows for sure what caused these marks. However, some people believe they might be sharpening marks, perhaps from tools or weapons.
The Ever-Changing Clock
The clock on the side of the church tower has been replaced many times. The weather caused the original wooden clock to decay often. It also blocked a whole window on the tower. Today, the clock is made of metal, and you can see the window clearly behind it.
An Ancient Alabaster Slab
Inside the church, on an interior wall, there is an old alabaster slab. It has carvings of Thomas and Marion Est, who passed away in 1462. The slab is very old and has become heavily worn over time.
The Church Bells: A Musical History
The church tower holds eight bells that ring out beautiful sounds. These bells were installed in 1950. Before that, the six original bells were melted down and reshaped, and two new, smaller bells were added. They hang from a special frame made by John Taylor & Co in Loughborough.
Yardley had two bells as early as 1638. It's thought that the metal from these old bells was used to make three new bells in 1638. These were the oldest bells in the tower before the 1950 changes. Another bell was made in 1653 by John Martin of Worcester. By 1691, a fifth bell was added by William Bagly.
In 1892, the bells were rehung by Henry Bisseker. A sixth bell was added in 1902 by James Barwell of Birmingham. He also made new parts for the bells to help them swing smoothly. At the same time, the wooden frame inside the spire was repaired.
In 1949, a problem arose: death watch beetles had infested the church tower! This made it hard to ring the bells. So, on May 1, 1949, the bells stopped ringing. Work began to fix the frame and recast the bells. The new set of bells was officially dedicated on September 9, 1950.
The Church Organ: A Powerful Instrument
St Edburgha's Church has a wonderful organ that fills the space with music. The church used to have an organ by the Aolian Company. This organ was updated in 1955 and again later. It had 3 keyboards and pedals, with 34 different sounds it could make. The current organ was put in place in 1997 by Organ Tuning Services. You can find more technical details about the organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
See also
- Listed buildings in Birmingham
Other Mediaeval Churches in Birmingham
