St Francis of Assisi Church, Handsworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Francis of Assisi Church |
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| OS grid reference | SP0581388903 |
| Location | Lozells, Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Mary's Church |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1840 |
| Dedication | St. Francis of Assisi |
| Consecrated | 21 June 1900 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Architect(s) | Canon Alexander Scoles |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | May 1893 |
| Completed | 2 February 1894 |
| Construction cost | £9000 |
| Administration | |
| Deanery | Birmingham (Cathedral) |
| Archdiocese | Birmingham |
| Province | Birmingham |
The St Francis of Assisi Church is a Roman Catholic Parish church located in Birmingham, England. It serves the local community, especially in the Handsworth area. This church has a long history, starting in 1840 as a small chapel. It was originally part of the nearby St. Mary's Convent, which was designed by the famous architect Augustus Pugin.
Contents
History of the Church
The story of St Francis of Assisi Church began in 1840. At that time, a church leader named Nicholas Wiseman invited a group of nuns, called the Sisters of Mercy, to come to Birmingham.
The First Church: Convent Chapel
The Sisters of Mercy set up their convent on land given to them by John Hardman. He was a kind person who lived across the street. John Hardman paid for the convent building. He also received help from the Earl of Shrewsbury. They hired Augustus Pugin, a very well-known architect, to design the building. The chapel inside this convent was dedicated to Saint Mary. It served as the local parish church until 1847.
Building St Mary's Church
By 1845, more and more Catholic people were moving to the area. The small convent chapel was no longer big enough for everyone. So, the community decided to build a larger, separate church right next to the convent. This new church, called St Mary's Church, opened in July 1847. It was officially blessed by Bishop William Wareing.
Later, in 1882, a new priest named Fr Francis Hopkins arrived. He quickly saw that even St Mary's Church was becoming too small for the growing number of people. He made it his main goal to build an even bigger church.
The Current Church: St Francis of Assisi
Land for the new church was bought from the Hardman family, right across from the convent. The Hardman family's house became the home for the priests of the new church. The architect chosen to design this grand new building was Canon Alexander Scoles. He was a priest and came from a family of architects. His father, Joseph John Scoles, designed a famous church in London. His brother, Ignatius Scoles, also designed churches. Canon Scoles later designed another church in Kew, London.
The first stone of St Francis' church was placed in May 1893 by Bishop Edward Ilsley. The church was finished just one year later. It was officially opened by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan on February 2, 1894. The building cost £9000. Once this money was paid off five years later, the church was formally dedicated on June 21, 1900.
Inside the Church
The Hardman family played a huge role in building and supporting the church. Because of this, much of the beautiful artwork inside was created by their company, Hardman & Co..
All the colorful stained glass windows in the church were made by Hardman & Co. One special window shows the Annunciation, which is when the Angel Gabriel visited Mary. This window is next to the Lady Chapel. It was designed by William John Wainwright and then built by Hardman & Co. The main altar and the decorative screen behind it (called a reredos) were made from a drawing by the architect, Alexander Scoles.
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Church sanctuary
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Nave window
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Annunciation window by William John Wainwright
Community Life
Right next to the church is the St Francis Centre. This is a community building that was constructed in 1909. It was designed by the architect George Bernard Cox. The centre has a large hall, a stage, a kitchen, and offices. It's a place where people can gather for events and activities.
The church building itself was updated in the 1980s. These changes were made to follow new guidelines from the Second Vatican Council.
The church offers several services each week. On Saturdays, there is an evening service. On Sundays, there are three morning services, plus a special service in Vietnamese language. There is also an evening service on Sunday. Weekday morning services are held at 9:15 AM. An adoration chapel next to the church is also open for quiet prayer.
The land where the old St Mary's church once stood is now home to St Francis Catholic Primary School. The school works closely with the church and the Sisters of Mercy convent next door. Both the church and the sisters have representatives on the school's governing board.
Besides the Sisters of Mercy, other Catholic religious orders also help out in the parish. These include the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban, the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit, the Missionaries of Charity, and the Dominican Sisters of St Rose of Lima. They all help support the community and the church members.
Outside the Church
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Presbytery with blue plaque of John Hardman
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Front entrance
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East side of church
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St Francis Centre
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Adoration Chapel
More to Explore
- Lozells
- Handsworth
- Archdiocese of Birmingham
