St James' Church, Mere Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James’ Church |
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St James’ Church
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| 52°35′16.47″N 1°49′26.03″W / 52.5879083°N 1.8238972°W | |
| Location | Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St James |
| Consecrated | 14 December 1835 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | Daniel Rollinson Hill |
| Groundbreaking | 1834 |
| Completed | 1835 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hill |
| Deanery | Sutton Coldfield |
| Archdeaconry | Aston |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Birmingham |
St James’ Church is a historic church located in Mere Green, a part of Sutton Coldfield, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This building is special because it is a Grade II listed building. This means it is protected for its historical and architectural importance.
Contents
History of St James' Church
Early Beginnings and Construction
St James' Church started as a "daughter church" of Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield. This means it was a new church built to serve a growing community, helped by an older, larger church. The church was designed by an architect named Daniel Rollinson Hill. It was officially opened for worship on December 14, 1835.
An Unusual Incident in 1850
On Good Friday in 1850, something unexpected happened. The people attending the church service became unwell. They were overcome by fumes from the stoves used to heat the building. Luckily, everyone recovered.
Becoming Its Own Parish
In 1853, St James' Church became a parish church in its own right. This meant it had its own area to serve, separate from Holy Trinity Church. Land was officially given to the church for this purpose.
Changes to the Parish Area
Later, in 1890, a part of St James' parish was used to create a new parish. This new area became home to All Saints' Church, Four Oaks.
Building Updates and Plans
In 1908, the church building received some important updates. The "chancel," which is the part of the church where the altar is, was replaced with a new one. This work was done by architect Charles Edward Bateman. He also added "transepts" (parts of the church that stick out like arms), an "organ loft" (a raised area for the organ), and new "vestries" (rooms for clergy and choir). There were plans to rebuild the rest of the church to match these new parts, but these plans were never completed.
The Church Organ
St James' Church has a special organ built by a company called Forster and Andrews. The first time this organ was played in a public performance was on June 7, 1853. You can find detailed information about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register, which keeps records of organs across the country.
