St Gabriel's Church, Deritend facts for kids

St Gabriel’s Church was a Church of England church located on Barn Street in Deritend, Birmingham. It is no longer standing today.

Building the Church

Laying the First Stone

The very first stone for St Gabriel's Church was put in place on October 10, 1867. This important event was led by Frederick Elkington and the Bishop of Worcester. Laying a foundation stone is a special ceremony that marks the start of building a new church or important building.

Design and Construction

The church was designed by a famous architect named J A Chatwin. The company that built the church was Wilson and Son, from Soho, Birmingham. The building work was finished in 1869.

Church Opening

St Gabriel's Church was officially opened and made sacred on June 25, 1868. This ceremony was called a "consecration" and was performed by the Bishop of Worcester. This meant the church was ready for worship.

The Church's Community

Forming a Parish

In 1869, a new church area, called a parish, was created for St Gabriel's. This parish was made from parts of two other church areas: St Martin in the Bull Ring and St Bartholomew’s Church, Birmingham. A parish is like a local community served by a church.

Parish Growth

The St Gabriel's parish grew bigger in 1939. More land from the St. Bartholomew's parish was added to it. This meant more people became part of St Gabriel's church community.

The Church During Wartime

Damage from Air Raids

During the Second World War, in 1941, St Gabriel's Church was damaged. This happened during an air raid, which was when enemy planes dropped bombs. Many buildings in cities like Birmingham were hit during this time.

Church Closure

Because of the damage, St Gabriel's Church had to close in 1945. After it closed, its parish joined with another nearby church, St Basil's Church, Deritend. This meant the people who used to go to St Gabriel's now went to St Basil's.