St Lawrence's Church, Duddeston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Lawrence’s Church, Duddeston |
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|---|---|
| 52°29′20.8″N 1°53′10.1″W / 52.489111°N 1.886139°W | |
| Location | Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Lawrence |
| Consecrated | 25 June 1868 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | J A Chatwin |
| Groundbreaking | 20 June 1867 |
| Completed | 1868 |
| Construction cost | £4,347 |
| Closed | 1951 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 750 people |
| Length | 95.5 feet (29.1 m) |
| Width | 55.6 feet (16.9 m) |
St Lawrence's Church, located on Dartmouth Street in Duddeston, was once a Church of England parish church in the city of Birmingham, England. It served the local community for many years before it closed.
Contents
A Look Back: St Lawrence's Church
The journey to build St Lawrence's Church began on June 20, 1867. On this day, the first stone, known as the foundation stone, was carefully laid by the Bishop of Worcester. This was an important event, marking the start of the church's construction.
A generous person named Miss Louisa Ann Ryland provided the money needed to build the church. The church was designed by a famous architect, J A Chatwin. It was built using strong bricks, and the beautiful patterns in the windows, called tracery, were made from a special kind of stone called Corsham Down Bath stone. Charles Jones, a builder from Birmingham, was the main contractor for the project.
The church was officially opened and made sacred, or "consecrated," on June 25, 1868, also by the Bishop of Worcester. In the same year, a new church area, called a parish, was created for St Lawrence's. This new parish was formed from parts of the existing St Matthew's Church, Duddeston and Nechells parish.
Important People: Thomas J. Bass
One notable person who served at St Lawrence's Church was Thomas J. Bass. He was the vicar, or priest, from 1897 to 1925. Mr. Bass was not just a church leader; he was also an author. He spoke out strongly against poverty and the poor living conditions in the city's slum areas. He also worked as the secretary for the city's Sanitary Aid Committee, helping to improve health and cleanliness.
Changes and Closure
Over the years, the church had some updates. Changes were made in 1894 and again in 1895 to improve the building. However, in 1951, St Lawrence's Church closed its doors for good. After it closed, its parish was joined back with St Matthew's Church, Duddeston and Nechells.
The Church Organ
St Lawrence's Church had a musical instrument called an organ, which was made by a company named Halmshaw. You can find detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register, which keeps records of organs across the country.
