St Paul's Church, Hamstead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Paul's Church |
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St. Paul's in February 2020
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| 52°32′30.9″N 1°55′43.4″W / 52.541917°N 1.928722°W | |
| Location | Hamstead, Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Paul |
| Consecrated | 29 September 1892 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Architect(s) | William Davis |
| Groundbreaking | 27 July 1891 |
| Completed | 1892 |
| Construction cost | £3,400 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 450 persons |
| Length | 95 feet (29 m) |
| Width | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Materials | Brick |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Paul Hamstead |
| Deanery | Handsworth |
| Archdeaconry | Birmingham |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Birmingham |
St Paul's Church, Hamstead is an important Church of England church located in Birmingham, England. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it is a special historic place protected by law. The church serves the local community in the Hamstead area.
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Where is St Paul's Church Located?
St Paul's Church is found west of the A34 Walsall Road. It sits on top of a hill, giving it a great view over the Hamstead area. Hamstead used to be a village where people mined for coal.
The church is close to the border between Birmingham and Sandwell. When the church was built, this area was part of Staffordshire. Later, in 1928, it became part of Birmingham. This also meant it became part of Warwickshire. Since 1974, it has been in the West Midlands county.
Just a short walk from the church, along the A34 road, you can find the church's community hall. This hall is used for many different activities and events.
The History of St Paul's Church
The idea for St Paul's Church started in 1865. At that time, it was a "mission church." This means it was a simple place for worship, often set up before a permanent church could be built.
Building the Church
After some years, enough money was raised to build a proper church. The first stone was laid on July 27, 1891. This important event was done by Augustus Gough-Calthorpe, 6th Baron Calthorpe.
The church was designed by an architect named William Davis. It included a main area called the nave, with parts sticking out on the sides called transepts and aisles. It also had a chancel, which is the part of the church near the altar.
The church was built using red brick and special stone called Bathstone. The company that built it was Harley and Son. The church was officially opened and blessed on September 29, 1892. This ceremony was led by Augustus Legge, who was the Bishop of Lichfield.
A "Pleasant Country Church"
Famous architectural writers, Pevsner and Wedgwood, described St Paul's as "A pleasant country church." They noted its style, which is called "Decorated." This style often features detailed carvings and stained glass.
In 1894, St Paul's became its own parish. A parish is an area that a church is responsible for. Land for this new parish was taken from the nearby parishes of St Mary's Church, Handsworth and St John the Evangelist's Church, Perry Barr.
Hamstead War Memorial
Next to St Paul's Church, you will find the Hamstead War Memorial. This memorial was put up in December 1920. It was paid for by people in the community.
The memorial remembers 22 men from the parish who lost their lives in World War I. It is shaped like a Celtic wheel-cross. Like the church, the war memorial is also a Grade II listed building, meaning it is historically important and protected.
