St Gabriel's Church, Deritend facts for kids

St Gabriel’s Church, located on Barn Street in Deritend, was once a Church of England parish church in the city of Birmingham, England. It was a place of worship for many years before it was damaged and eventually closed.

Building the Church

The first step in building St Gabriel's Church happened on October 10, 1867. A special event was held where Frederick Elkington laid the foundation stone. This was an important moment for starting the church's construction.

Who Designed and Built It?

The church was designed by a well-known architect named J A Chatwin. He was responsible for creating the plans and look of the building. The actual construction work was done by a company called Wilson and Son, who were based in Soho, Birmingham.

Opening Day

The church was officially opened and blessed on June 25, 1868. This ceremony was led by the Bishop of Worcester. Special items for the church, like gas lights, the communion table, and a brass lectern, were made by a company called Blews and Sons.

Church Community

In 1869, St Gabriel's Church got its own parish. A parish is like a local area that a church serves. This new parish was created from parts of two other church areas: St Martin in the Bull Ring and St Bartholomew’s Church, Birmingham. This meant St Gabriel's had its own community to look after.

Growing the Parish

Later, in 1939, the parish of St Gabriel's became even bigger. More land and people from the St Bartholomew’s parish were added to it. This helped the church serve more people in the area.

End of an Era

Sadly, St Gabriel's Church faced a difficult time during the Second World War. In 1941, it was damaged during an air raid. Because of this damage, the church had to close its doors in 1945. After it closed, its parish was joined with another nearby church, St Basil's Church, Deritend.