St Mary's Church, Temple Balsall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Temple Balsall
St Mary's Church, Temple Balsall
52°22′54″N 1°41′51″W / 52.3816°N 1.6974°W / 52.3816; -1.6974
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Anglo Catholic
Website	[1]
History
Dedication	St Mary
Administration
Parish	Temple Balsall
Diocese	Birmingham
Province	Canterbury

St Mary's Church, Temple Balsall is a special church located in Temple Balsall, a village near Solihull in the West Midlands, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church has a long and interesting history, especially because of its connection to the famous Knights Templar.

A Look Back: The Church's History

St Mary's Church looks like it was built in the 13th century, which means the 1200s. However, it was greatly repaired and updated in 1849 by a famous architect named Sir George Gilbert Scott. This kind of big repair is called a Victorian restoration. The church is also a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.

Who Built the Church? The Knights Templar

Many people believe that the church was originally built by the Knights Templar. These were a powerful group of Christian knights during the Middle Ages. They were known for protecting pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. St Mary's Church is even thought to be the "Mother Church" for both the Knights Templar and another group called the Knight Hospitallers. This means it was a very important place for them. You can even see pictures of knights from both groups in the church's Altar window.

The Church's Musical Instrument: The Organ

St Mary's Church has a small but beautiful pipe organ. It was made by a company called Porritt from Leicester. A pipe organ is a large musical instrument that makes sound by sending air through many pipes. This organ was carefully fixed and tuned between 2012 and 2014 by Peter Collins, an expert in organs.

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  St Mary's Church, Temple Balsall