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 building with a rich history. It was once a Church of England parish church. Today, it is used by the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic. This building is special because it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is protected for its historical importance.
A Look at the History
The church started as a small "iron mission church" in 1900. It was called the Good Shepherd. This type of church was often built quickly and cheaply. It helped serve the community before a bigger church could be built.
The first stone for the main church was laid on April 22, 1902. Lord Leigh, a very important person, helped with this ceremony. The church was designed by an architect named J.L. Ball. A company called John Barnsley and Son built it.
Between 1911 and 1912, parts of the church were built. These included the apse (a rounded part at the end of the church) and three sections of the nave (the main part where people sit). In 1912, the church was named St Gregory the Great. It was officially opened and blessed on May 13, 1916. The Bishop of Birmingham led this special event.
In 1924, St Gregory's became its own parish. This means it had its own local area to serve. Before this, it was part of other churches. The final parts of the church were finished between 1926 and 1928. Another architect, Holland W. Hobbiss, helped supervise this work.
Later, the Church of England decided they no longer needed the building. This is called being "declared redundant." After that, the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic started using the building.
The Church 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. It came from another church called St Peter's Church in Handsworth.
You can find details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register. When the church was no longer used by the Church of England, the organ was taken out. It was planned to be moved to St Mary the Virgin's Church in Little Houghton, Northamptonshire.
