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 an old and important church in Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, England. It belongs to the Church of England. It is also a "Grade II listed" building, which means it's a special historic place protected by law.
Contents
History of St James' Church
St James' Church started as a "daughter church" of Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield. This means it was a new church created to help a larger, older church serve more people.
Building the Church
The church was designed by an architect named Daniel Rollinson Hill. It was finished and officially opened on 14 December 1835. This special opening ceremony is called "consecration."
A Smoky Incident
Something unusual happened on Good Friday in 1850. The people inside the church felt unwell because of smoke from the stoves used to heat the building. Luckily, everyone was okay.
Becoming Its Own Parish
In 1853, St James' Church became a "parish" on its own. A parish is like a local area that a church is responsible for. Before this, it was part of the Holy Trinity Church's parish.
Expanding the Church Area
Later, in 1890, a part of St James' parish was used to create a new parish for All Saints' Church, Four Oaks. This helped more people in the growing area have their own local church.
Changes to the Building
In 1908, the church building itself got some updates. The "chancel," which is the part of the church near the altar, was replaced. A new architect, Charles Edward Bateman, designed this. He also added:
- "Transepts" – these are parts that stick out from the sides, making the church look like a cross.
- An "organ loft" – a special raised area for the church organ.
- New "vestries" – rooms used by the clergy (church leaders) to get ready.
There were plans to rebuild the rest of the church to match these new parts, but it never happened.
The Church Organ
St James' Church has a special organ made by a company called Forster and Andrews. The first time it was played in a public concert was on 7 June 1853. You can find out more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register, which keeps records of church organs.
