St Matthew's Church, Duddeston and Nechells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Matthew’s Church, Duddeston and Nechells |
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|---|---|
| 52°29′26.2″N 1°52′38.9″W / 52.490611°N 1.877472°W | |
| Location | Duddeston |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Matthew |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | William Thomas |
| Groundbreaking | 1839 |
| Completed | 1840 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,300 people in 1866. Now 250 people. |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Aston and Nechells |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Birmingham |
St Matthew's Church, Duddeston and Nechells is a historic church in Birmingham, England. It is part of the Church of England. The church is also a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important building that needs to be protected.
Contents
The Church's Story
How St Matthew's Church Was Built
A talented architect named William Thomas designed St Matthew's Church. He was from Leamington Spa. The first stone for the church was placed in October 1839. The church was officially opened in October 1840. The Bishop of Worcester led the special ceremony.
St Matthew's was built as a "daughter church" to St Peter and Paul's Church, Aston. This means it was a new church created to help serve a growing community. It was the very first of five churches built by the Birmingham Church Building Society. This group helped build new churches where they were needed.
Changes Over Time
In 1866, an architect named J.A. Chatwin added galleries inside the church. Galleries are like balconies that add more space for people to sit. This change helped the church hold more people. In 1883, the church was repaired and made new again. This is called a restoration.
Parish Changes
A "parish" is an area that a church serves. Sometimes, parishes change size. In 1868, a part of St Matthew's parish became a new parish for St Lawrence's Church, Duddeston. But when St Lawrence's Church closed in 1951, its parish joined back with St Matthew's.
The same thing happened with St Anne's Church, Duddeston. In 1898, part of St Matthew's parish became St Anne's. When St Anne's Church closed in 1951, its parish also rejoined St Matthew's.
Modern Updates
In 1994, St Matthew's Church had a big makeover. It was changed into a building that could be used for many things. A special area was created for church services. This area can hold about 250 people. The rest of the building was made into offices and community spaces. This helps the church serve the local community in many ways.
