St James the Less' Church, Ashted facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St James the Less' Church, Ashted |
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St James the Less’ Church, Ashted
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| 52°29′8″N 1°52′42.5″W / 52.48556°N 1.878472°W | |
| Location | Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St James the Less |
| Consecrated | 1810 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 9 October 1791 |
| Demolished | 1956 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 92 feet (28 m) |
| Width | 56 feet (17 m) |
St James the Less’ Church was a special church in Ashted, Birmingham, England. It was part of the Church of England and served the local community for many years before it was sadly damaged and taken down.
Contents
The Church's Story
From Home to Holy Place
The building that became St James the Less’ Church started as a large house. A doctor named Dr. Ash built it in 1780. It was quite big, measuring 56 feet by 56 feet (about 17 meters by 17 meters).
Just eleven years later, on October 9, 1791, this house was changed into a chapel. A chapel is a smaller place of worship. It was known as Ashted Chapel and was connected to the main Aston Parish Church.
A New Beginning
In 1809, two people, George Simcox and J.L. Green, bought the chapel for £1,200. They then spent another £1,500 to rebuild it, making it much grander. This rebuilt church was officially opened and blessed in 1810.
The church had several important parts:
- A main area called the Nave and a special area near the altar called the Chancel.
- Rooms for the choir and clergy (church leaders).
- Entrances called porches on the north-west and south-west sides.
- A round area for baptisms called a western semi-circular baptistry.
- A round tower on top, called a cupola-tower, which held eight special bells.
Becoming a Parish Church
In 1853, the area around St James the Less’ Church became its own official parish. This meant it was no longer just a chapel connected to Aston Parish Church but had its own community and responsibilities.
Repairs and Changes
The church needed repairs several times over the years.
- In 1829, a new vicar, Revd. Josiah Allport, arrived to find the church closed and without a roof! It was fixed under the guidance of Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson for £860.
- Later, in 1887 and 1888, the roof was again in danger of falling. The inside of the church was changed, and part of the east end was rebuilt. The organ, which was in a gallery at the back, was moved. This big repair project cost about £2,500.
The End of the Church
During the Second World War, the church was damaged in an air raid. Sadly, because of this damage, it was taken down in 1956.
Church Organ
St James the Less’ Church had a musical organ made by a company called Banfield. You can find more details about this organ in a special record called the National Pipe Organ Register.
