St Mary and St Margaret's Church, Castle Bromwich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary and St Margaret's Church, Castle Bromwich
St Mary and St Margaret's Church, Castle Bromwich
52°30′23.2″N 1°47′29.2″W / 52.506444°N 1.791444°W / 52.506444; -1.791444
Location	Castle Bromwich, Metropolitan Borough of Solihull
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	St Mary and St Margaret
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Specifications
Bells	6
Administration
Parish	St Mary and St Margaret Castle Bromwich
Deanery	Coleshill
Archdeaconry	Aston
Diocese	Anglican Diocese of Birmingham

St Mary and St Margaret Church in Castle Bromwich, England, is a very old and special building. It's a Grade I listed parish church, which means it's considered very important for its history and architecture. It belongs to the Church of England.

History of the Church

Early Beginnings: A Wooden Chapel

Imagine a tiny wooden church standing here even before the year 1175! It was likely built for the de Bromwich family, who lived in the area. Later, in the 1100s, this small chapel was rebuilt using strong stone.

Adding to the Church: The Medieval Era

In the 1400s, a large half-timbered (wood-framed) section and a wooden tower were added to the west side of the church. A family called Devereux probably made these additions.

A New Look: The Georgian Makeover

Between 1726 and 1731, Sir John Bridgeman II made big changes to the church. He wanted it to look like the grand English Renaissance style, which was popular at the time. First, a new brick tower was built in 1725, a little distance from the main church.

The church and the nearby Castle Bromwich Hall were then rebuilt using bricks. These bricks were made from local clay found right in Castle Bromwich. People think the architect was Thomas White from Worcester.

A Church Within a Church

The old timber church was covered with new brick and plaster. This means the massive oak timbers that hold up the roof are still there, but they are now hidden by a flat ceiling. This makes St Mary and St Margaret Church very unique! It's like a "church within a church" – an old Norman and medieval building hidden inside a newer Georgian one. The round plastered pillars you see inside actually cover huge, solid oak timbers. These timbers are 20 inches square and 23 feet tall, standing on stone bases.

Becoming a Parish Church

Until 1878, the church was like a private chapel for Castle Bromwich Hall. It was part of a much larger area called Aston Parish. After that, it became the official Church of England parish church for all of Castle Bromwich. The beautiful Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens are right next to the Hall. There are special iron gates in the North Garden that lead directly to the church grounds.

Castle Bromwich used to be just one church area. But in 1967, it was split into two when St Clement's Church was built in the eastern part of the village.

Key Features of the Church

The Tower and Bells

The church is a Grade I listed building, meaning it's very important. Its brick tower has a clock face and holds a set of six bells. Before 1947, there were weather vanes on top of the stone urns at the tower's four corners. After the bells were remade in 1952, these were replaced with parts from the old bell clappers.

Inside the Church

Inside, you'll find two smaller chapels, one of which is called the Lady Chapel. The church has traditional wooden pews, which are rows of seats. The box pews at the front were once saved just for the Bridgeman family.

You can also see a stone tablet dedicated to Sir John Bridgeman from 1752. There's also a window that remembers the Countess of Bradford, who passed away in 1842. The church has a rare three-tiered pulpit, which is a tall stand where the speaker gives sermons. It has a high pulpit, a desk for reading, and a seat for the clerk.

In 1966, the bluish Victorian glass in the windows was replaced with clear glass. This was done to let in more natural light. A small amount of the old blue glass can still be seen in the tower.

Modern Additions

The Foden Room, named after one of the church wardens, was built on the south side of the church. It was made of ordinary brick and hidden from the road. This room was for extra space. In 2012, it was taken down and replaced with a much bigger community hall. Some of the box pews were removed in 1980 to create more space in the Lady Chapel.

Church Activities

Many groups and activities happen at St Mary and St Margaret Church. These include:

• The Choir
• Bellringers
• Mothers Union
• Wayfarers (which is like a Sunday School)
• Youth Group
• Prayer Group
• Bible Study Group