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, Ashted was a Church of England church located in Ashted, a part of Birmingham, England. It is no longer standing today.
Contents
The Church's Story
This church started out as a large house built in 1780 by a person called Dr. Ash. The house was quite big, measuring about 17 meters by 17 meters.
From House to Chapel
In 1791, the house was changed into a small church. It was called Ashted Chapel. It served as a "chapel of ease" for the main Aston Parish Church. A chapel of ease is a smaller church built to help people who live far from the main parish church.
Rebuilding and New Features
In 1809, two people named George Simcox and J.L. Green bought the chapel. They spent a lot of money, about £2,700, to rebuild it. The new church was officially opened in 1810. It had a main area (Nave), a special area for the choir (Chancel), and several rooms for the clergy (church leaders). It also had a round tower at the top with eight special "tubular bells."
Becoming a Parish Church
In 1853, the area around Ashted Chapel became its own official parish. This meant it was no longer just a small chapel helping a bigger church. It became a full parish church, serving its own community.
Repairs and Changes
The church needed repairs several times. In 1829, a new vicar, Revd. Josiah Allport, found the church closed and without a roof! It was fixed by architects Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson. Later, in 1887-1888, the roof was again in danger of falling. The inside of the church was changed, and the organ was moved from a high gallery. These repairs cost a lot of money.
The End of the Church
Sadly, St James the Less’ Church was badly damaged during an air raid in the Second World War. Because of the damage, the church had to be taken down in 1956.
Church Leaders
- Revd. Josiah Allport was a vicar at the church from 1829 to 1859.
The Organ
The church had a musical organ made by a company called Banfield. You can find details about this organ in a special record called the National Pipe Organ Register.
