St Thomas in the Moors, Balsall Heath facts for kids

St Thomas in the Moors, Balsall Heath, was once a Church of England parish church in Balsall Heath, a part of Birmingham, England. A parish church serves a specific local area, providing religious services and support to its community.

A Look Back: The Church's Story

The journey to build St Thomas in the Moors began a long time ago.

Building the Church

The very first stone of the church was put in place on November 28, 1870. A lady named Mrs. Sands Cox laid this special stone. She did it to remember Edward Townsend Cox and his wife Jane. A brass plate on the stone had a message written in Latin. It said that the stone was for the holy building of St. Thomas. It also mentioned the architects, Bateman and Corser, and the builders, T. Hardwick and Son.

Years later, on August 14, 1883, the church was officially made holy. This ceremony is called "consecration." It was performed by the Bishop of Worcester, a high-ranking church leader.

The Church's Area and Closure

In 1884, St Thomas in the Moors was given its own "parish." This means it had a specific area it was responsible for. This new parish was created from land that used to belong to St Paul's Church, Balsall Heath. Later, in 1900, a small part of its parish was used to help form a new parish for St Patrick's Church, Bordesley.

Eventually, around 1970, the church was closed down. When it closed, its parish area was divided. Some of it joined the parish of St Mary and St Ambrose, Edgbaston. The rest became part of the parish for St Anne's Church, Moseley.

The Church Organ

Inside the church, there was a large musical instrument called an organ. This organ was made by a company named Nicholson from Worcester. Organs are special instruments often found in churches, known for their powerful and varied sounds.

When St Thomas in the Moors closed, its organ was moved. It found a new home at St John the Baptist's Church, Longbridge, where it could continue to be played.