St Gabriel's Church, Walsall facts for kids

The Church of St Gabriel the Archangel, Fullbrook, Walsall

St Gabriel's Church is a special place of worship in Walsall, West Midlands. It's a Church of England parish church. A parish church serves a local area, and St Gabriel's looks after communities like Fullbrook, Caldmore, Bescot, and Palfrey.

Inside St Gabriel's Church, showing the main area and the altar

What Kind of Church Is It?

St Gabriel's Church follows a tradition called Traditional Catholic. This is a part of the Church of England. It means they have special ways of worship and beliefs. The church is guided by the Bishop of Oswestry, who is currently Bishop Paul Thomas.

History of St Gabriel's

How the Church Started

The story of St Gabriel's Church began in 1850. A small chapel was built on Delves Common. It was called the Good Shepherd Chapel. This chapel helped local farming families and workers. It opened on September 13, 1850.

The chapel was made of brick and cost £315. It had simple windows and seats for about 100 people. There was a small area for the altar. Oil lamps lit the whole building.

In 1885, a schoolroom was added to the chapel. This helped the community even more. The chapel stayed an important place for worship.

A New Parish Is Formed

By the 1930s, Walsall was growing fast. Many new houses were built in The Delves area. This meant a new church area, called a parish, was needed.

So, in 1936, the Conventional District of Fullbrook was created. It brought together parts of other nearby parishes. Reverend Alexander Fraser became the first leader of this new district. The Good Shepherd Chapel continued to be the main place of worship.

By 1938, about 1,500 houses were built. Nearly 7,000 people lived in the area. Even more homes were planned. It was clear that a bigger church was needed.

Building St Gabriel's Church

Reverend John Fenwick Laing helped make St Gabriel's Church possible. He was a vicar before 1921. He knew a new parish would be needed. So, he left £12,000 in his will to build a church. This money grew over time and was used for the new building.

A one-acre plot of land was chosen for the church. It was on Walstead Road, near the Full Brook. The architects, Lavender and Twentyman, designed the church. Deacon and Boardman were the builders. Reverend Alex Fraser suggested naming the church after St Gabriel. This honored Reverend Laing, who had helped so much.

On March 19, 1938, the foundation stone was laid. Bishop Edward Woods of Lichfield did the honors. Photos show him blessing the stone. He was wearing special robes, with two priests helping him.

The church was designed to feel welcoming. The architects wanted everyone to feel connected. The altar area was kept short so everyone could see. It was built like a tower to let in lots of light. A simple black marble cross was on the east wall.

The church's base was made of concrete. The main building was brick. Special stones called Clipsham stone were used for windows. The roof was made of concrete and steel. It was insulated and waterproofed. Inside, the walls were plastered with a textured finish.

During construction, the church gathered items for worship. These included hymn boards, kneeling mats, and altar items. A special set of tubular chimes was installed. It was the first of its kind in the country. The chimes were played from a keyboard. Their sound was sent outside through microphones. However, these chimes needed a lot of repairs and are no longer used. The original electric organ, though, worked well for almost 40 years.

In March 2022, the old organ was taken apart. A new hybrid organ was installed. It was blessed on February 4, 2023.

The Church's Official Opening

By Christmas 1938, the new church was almost ready. Reverend Fraser invited everyone in the new parish to the opening.

The official opening, called the consecration, happened on Saturday, February 4, 1939. A procession started at the Walstead Road schools. Choir members, clergy, and Bishop Edward Woods walked to the new church. The church was full, and many people waited outside. Those outside could hear the service through a loudspeaker.

The procession walked around the church first. Then, they stopped at the south porch. The doors were closed. The Bishop knocked on the doors three times with his staff. He received the keys and unlocked the doors. A photo from that day shows a large crowd outside. The Bishop is seen under the porch arch.

Inside, the Bishop led prayers. The request to consecrate the church was read. The Bishop, wearing a blue and gold robe, blessed different parts of the church. He stopped at the font, lectern, and altar. At each spot, a Bible reading was given. Then, a special blessing was said. At the main altar, the Bishop prayed and touched it. The people sang a hymn.

Next, the Bishop signed the official document of consecration. He then made a formal statement to the people. A local newspaper reported on the important event.

The next day, Sunday, the Bishop returned. He led a service at 9 a.m. This completed the full consecration of St Gabriel's Church.

Church Leaders

The Lady Chapel inside St Gabriel's Church

Vicars of St Gabriel's

• 1935 – 1948 Fr A. Fraser
• 1948 – 1954 Fr J. McCullough
• 1954 – 1971 Fr S. Thomas
• 1972 – 2010 Fr T R H Coyne
• 2011–present Rev Prebendary Mark McIntyre CMP SSC

Assistant Priests

• 1958 – 1961 Fr E Booth
• 1967 – 1970 Fr K Hill
• 1970 – 1973 Fr H Pascoe
• 1974 – 1977 Fr N Clapp
• 1977 – 1978 Fr C Marshall
• 1980 – 1983 Fr B Williams
• 1988 – 1990 Fr G Matthews
• 1990 Fr D Pearce
• 1995 – 2004 Fr W Poultney
• 2000 – 2003 Fr E Davies
• 2005 – 2010 Fr N Pierce
• 2013 – 2016 Fr S Oakes
• 2019 – 2022 Fr R Hume