St Gregory the Great's Church, Small Heath facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Gregory the Great’s Church, Small Heath |
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St Gregory the Great’s Church, Small Heath
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| 52°27′57.2″N 1°50′46.9″W / 52.465889°N 1.846361°W | |
| Location | Small Heath, Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Pentecostal |
| Previous denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Gregory the Great |
| Consecrated | 13 May 1916 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | J.L. Ball |
| Groundbreaking | 22 April 1902 |
| Completed | 1928 |
St Gregory the Great's Church in Small Heath, Birmingham is a special building. It used to be a Church of England parish church. Now, it is used by the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic. This church is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical place.
Contents
History of the Church Building
How St Gregory's Church Started
The church began as a small mission church in 1900. It was called the Good Shepherd. This early church was made of iron. It was connected to All Saints' Church, Small Heath (I).
Building the Main Church
The first stone for the new church was laid on April 22, 1902. Lord Leigh, a important local leader, helped with this. The church was designed by an architect named J.L. Ball. A company called John Barnsley and Son built it.
Between 1911 and 1912, the rounded end (called the apse) and three sections of the main hall (the nave) were built. In 1912, the church was named St Gregory the Great. It was officially opened on May 13, 1916, by the Bishop of Birmingham.
Completing the Church and Its New Use
In 1924, St Gregory's became its own parish. This means it had its own area for church services. This area was created from parts of All Saints' Church, Small Heath (I) and St Oswald's Church, Small Heath.
The front part of the church was finished between 1926 and 1928. This work was overseen by Holland W. Hobbiss. After many years, the Church of England decided they no longer needed the building. Now, the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic uses it for their services.
The Church Organ
About the Organ
The church once had a large musical instrument called an organ. This organ was built by William Hill in 1846. It was moved to St Gregory's Church around 1976. Before that, it was at St Peter's Church, Handsworth.
You can find details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register. When the Church of England stopped using St Gregory's, the organ was taken out. It was then moved to St Mary the Virgin's Church in Little Houghton, Northamptonshire.
