Part 38

_Aston Church_.--It is impossible to fix the date of erection of the first church for the parish of Aston, but that it must have been at a very early period is shown by the entry in the Domesday Book relative to the manor. The parish itself formerly included Bordesley and Deritend, Nechells and Saltley, Erdington and Witton, Castle Bromwich, Ward End, and Water Orton, an area so extensive that the ecclesiastical income was very considerable. In Henry III.'s reign the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield received twenty marks yearly out of the fruits of the rectory, the annual value of which was sufficient to furnish £26 13s. 4d. over and above the twenty marks. Records are in existence showing that the church (which was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul) was considerably enlarged about 300 years after the Conquest, and a renovation was carried out nearly a century back, but the alterations made during the last few years (1878-84) have been so extensive that practically it may be said the edifice has been rebuilt. The seating capacity of the old church was limited to about 500, but three times that number of persons will, in future, find accommodation, the cost of the extensions and alterations having been nearly £10,000. The ancient monuments, windows, and tablets have all been carefully replaced in positions corresponding to those they filled formerly, with many additions in the shape of coloured glass, heraldic emblazonments, and chaste carvings in wood and stone. The old church, for generations past, has been the centre-point of interest with local antiquarians, as it was, in the days far gone, the chosen last resting-place of so many connected with our ancient history--the Holtes, the Erdingtons, the Devereux, the Ardens, the Harcourts, the Bracebridgss, Clodshalls, Bagots, &c. Here still may be seen the stone and alabaster effigies of lords and ladies who lived in the time of the Wars of the Roses, two showing by their dress that while one was Lancasterian, the other followed the fortunes of York. The tablets of the Holte' family, _temp_. Elizabeth and Charles, and the Devereux monument of the Jacobean era, are well preserved, while all around the shields and arms of the ancient families, with their many quarterings, form the best heraldic collection anywhere near Birmingham. The parish registers date from the 16th century, and the churchwardens accounts are preserved from the year 1652. Among the facts recorded in the former we may note the burial of the dozen or so Royalist soldiers who lost their lives while defending Aston Hall from the attacks made on it by the Birmingham men in December, 1643; while in both there are quaint entries innumerable, and full of curious interest to the student and historian. The Rev. W. Eliot, M.A., the present vicar, was instituted in 1876 (commencing duty Feb. 25, 1877), the living (£1,600 value) being in the presentation of trustees. In connection with the Church, there are Mission Rooms in Tower Road and in Alfred Street, with Sunday Schools, Bible classes, Dorcas, and other societies. The first portion of the late additions to the Church was consecrated July 5, 1880; the new chancel on Sept. 8, 1883

_Bishop Rider's_, a square-towered brick edifice in Gem Street, was built in 1837-38, the laying of the foundation stone (August 23, 1837) being characterised by the almost unheard-of conduct of the low denizens of the neighbourhood, who pelted the Bishop of Lichfield with mud on the occasion. The consecration took place Dec. 18, 1838, and the building cost £4,600. The living, valued at £300, is in the hands of trustees, the present vicar being the Rev. J.P. Gardiner. The vicarage, which was completed in 1862 at a cost of £2,240, is in Sutton Street, Aston Road-- too near a residence to the church not being deemed advisable even five-and-twenty years after the opening ceremony of 1837. In 1879 the galleries were removed, and the church re-pewed and otherwise renovated, the re-opening taking place July 28, there being now 860 free sittings.

_Christ Church_, New Street.--At first known as "The Free Church," this edifice was for no less than ten years in the hands of the builders. The cornerstone was laid July 22, 1805, by Lord Dartmouth, in the absence of George III., who had promised, but was too ill, to be present. His Majesty, however, sent £1,000 towards the building fund. It was consecrated July 13, 1813; finished in 1816; clock put in 1817. The patron is the Bishop of Worcester, and to the living (valued at £350), is attached a Prebendary in Lichfield Cathedral. The present Vicar, since 1881, is the Rev. E.R. Mason, M.A. There is accommodation for 1,500, all the seats being free, but at one time the worshippers were limited in their freedom of sitting by the males having to take their places on one side and the females on the other, a custom which gave rise to the following epigram:

"Our churches and chapels we generally find Are the places where men to the women are joined; But at Christ Church, it seems, they are more cruelhearted, For men and their wives go there and get parted."

Mission services in connection with Christ Church are held in the Pinfold Street and Fleet Street Schoolrooms.

_Christ Church_, Gillott Road, Summerfield. The foundation stone of a church to be erected to the memory of the late Rev. George Lea (for 43 years connected with Christ Church and St. George's, Edgbaston) was laid Nov. 27, 1883. It is intended to accommodate 850 persons, and will cost about £8,000, exclusive of a tower 110ft. high which will be added afterwards at a further cost of £1,200.

_Christ Church_, Quinton, was erected in 1841, at a cost of £2,500, and will seat 600, two-thirds being free. The living is valued at £200, is in the gift of the Rector of Halesowen (in whose parish Quinton was formerly included), and is held by the Rev. C.H. Oldfield, B.A.

_Christ Church_, Sparkbrook, is a handsome Gothic erection, built on land given by Mr. S.S. Lloyd, the first stone being laid April 5, 1866, and the opening ceremony on October 1, 1867. The living, a perpetual curacy, is in the gift of trustees, and is valued at £350 per annum, and has been held hitherto by the Rev. G. Tonge, M.A. The building of the church cost nearly £10,000, the accommodation being sufficient for 900 persons, one-half the seats being free. The stained window in chancel to the memory of Mrs. S.S. Lloyd, is said by some to be the most beautiful in Birmingham, the subject being the Resurrection. There are Mission Rooms and Sunday Schools in Dolobran Road, Montpellier Street, Long Street, and Stratford Road, several thousands having been spent in their erection.

_Christ Church_, Yardley Wood, was built and endowed by the late John Taylor, Esq., in 1848, the consecration taking place April 4, 1849. Vicarage, value £185; patrons, trustees; Vicar, Rev. C.E. Beeby, B.A. Seats 260, the 60 being free.

_Edgbaston Old Church_.--It is not known when the first church was built on this site, some writers having gone so far back as to fix the year 777 as the probable date. The present edifice, though it incorporates some few remains of former erections, and will always be known as the "old" church, really dates but from 1809-10, when it was re-built (opened Sept 10, 1810) but, as the Edgbastonians began to increase and multiply rapidly after that time, it was found necessary to add a nave and aisle in 1857. There is now only accommodation for 670, and but a hundred or so of the seats are free, so that possibly in a few more years the renovators and restorers will be busy providing another new old church for us. The patron is Lord Calthorpe, and the living is valued at £542, but the power of presenting has only been exercised three times during the last 124 years, the Rev. John Prynne Parkes Pixell, who was appointed vicar in 1760, being succeeded by his son in 1794, who held the living fifty-four years. At his death, in 1848, the Rev. Isaac Spooner, who had for the eleven previous years been the first incumbent of St. George's, Edgbaston, was inducted, and remained vicar till his death, July, 1884. In the Church there are several monuments to members of the Calthorpe family, and one in memory of Mr. Joshua Scholefield, the first M.P. for Birmingham, and also some richly-coloured windows and ancient-dated tablets connected with the oldest families of the Middlemores and others.

_Hall Green Church_ was built in Queen Anne's reign, and has seats for 475, half free. It is a vicarage (value £175), in the gift of trustees, and now held by the Rev. R. Jones, B.A.

_Handsworth Church_.--St. Mary's, the mother church of the parish, was probably erected in the twelfth century, but has undergone time's inevitable changes of enlargements, alterations, and rebuildings, until little, if any, of the original structure could possibly be shown. Great alterations were made during the 15th and 17th centuries, and again about 1759, and in 1820; the last of all being those of our own days. During the course of the "restoration," now completed, an oval tablet was taken down from the pediment over the south porch, bearing the inscription of "John Hall and John Hopkins, churchwardens, 1759," whose economising notions had led them to cut the said tablet out of an old gravestone, the side built into the wall having inscribed on its face, "The bodye of Thomas Lindon, who departed this life the 10 of April, 1675, and was yeares of age 88." The cost of the rebuilding has been nearly £11,000, the whole of which has been subscribed, the reopening taking place Sept. 28, 1878. There are several ancient monuments in fair preservation, and also Chantrey's celebrated statue of Watts. The living is valued at £1,500, the Rector, the Rev. W. Randall, M.A., being his own patron. The sittings in the church are (with a few exceptions only) all free and number over 1,000, Sunday and other services being also held in a Mission Room at Hamstead.

_Holy Trinity_.--The first stone of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Camp Hill, was placed in position Sept. 29, 1820. The building was consecrated Jan. 23, 1823, and opened for services March 16 following. The cost was £14,325, and the number of sittings provided 1,500, half to be free. The services have from the first been markedly of a Ritualistic character, and the ornate decorations of the church have been therefore most appropriate. The living (value £230) is a vicarage in the gift of trustees, and is at present held by the Rev. A.H. Watts, who succeeded the Rev. R.W. Enraght after the latter's suspension and imprisonment.-- See "_Ritualism_."

_Holy Trinity_, Birchfields.--First stone placed May 26, 1863; consecrated May 17, 1864. Cost about £5,000. The living (value £320) is a vicarage in the gift of the Rector of Handsworth, and is now held by the Rev. P.T. Maitland, who "read himself in" May 16, 1875.

_Holy Trinity_, North Harborne, was built in 1838-39 at a cost of £3,750, and will seat 700, one half being free. The living (value £300) is in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield.

_Immanuel Church_, Broad Street.--The foundation stone was laid July 12, 1864; the consecration took place May 7, 1865; the cost of erection was a little over £4,000; there are seats for 800, of which 600 are free; and the living (valued at £300), has been held until now by the Rev. C.H. Coleman, the presentation being in the hands of trustees. The "Magdalen" Chapel was formerly on the site.

_Iron Churches_.--May 22, 1874, an edifice built of iron was opened for religious purposes in Canon Hill Park, but the congregation that assembled were so scanty that in July, 1875, it was deemed expedient to remove it to Small Heath where it was used as a temporary "Oldknow Memorial" Church. Other iron churches have been utilised in the suburbs since then, and there is now no novelty in such erections, a score of which may be found within half the number of miles.

_St. Agnes'_, Moseley, off Wake Green Road.--The foundation stone was laid October 3, 1883, and its estimated cost is put at about £8,000. At present only a part sufficient to accommodate 400 persons is being proceeded with, but when completed the edifice will hold double that number, and will be 127 ft. long by 48 ft. wide, a tower and spire rising from the centre of the west end to a height of 137 ft.

_St. Alban's_.--A Mission chapel, dedicated to St. Alban, was opened in Leopold Street in September, 1865. This now forms a school belonging to the adjoining church, which was opened March 7, 1872. The curacy is held by the Revds. J.S. and T.B. Pollock, but the friends of those gentlemen have since ejected a far handsomer edifice, the Church of St. Alban the Martyr, at the corner of Conybere Street and Ryland Street, at a cost estimated at £20,000--£1,500 being paid for the site. The first stone of this magnificent building was laid January 31, 1880, the opening service taking place at 6.30 a.m., May 3, 1881. There is free seating for 1,000 in the new church, for 460 in St. Alban's, Leopold Street, and for a further 400 in the Mission Room--the services being entirely dependent on the gifts to the offertory, &c. On the Saint's day the special collections have for years been most remarkable, seldom less than £1,000 being given, while occasionally the amount has been more than four times that sum, The services are "High Church," with three daily celebrations and seven on Sunday.

_St. Andrew's_, Bordesley.--The foundation-stone was laid July 23, 1844, and consecration took place, Sept. 30, 1846. The cost of the building was about £5,000, the site being given. The value of the living is £320, the Bishop and trustees having the right of preferment alternately. There is accommodation for 800, one-fourth of the seats being free. The present Vicar is the Rev. J. Williamson, M.A. The iron-built church of S. Oswald, opposite Small Heath Park, Coventry-road, is attached to S. Andrew's.

_St. Anne's_, Duddeston, consecrated Oct. 22, 1869, is a brick building, giving accommodation for 810, half the seats being free. The Bishop presents the living, being of the nett value of £260. Rev. T.J. Haworth is the Vicar. Services also at the Mission Room, Great Francis Street.

_St. Anne's_, Park Hill, Moseley.--This Chapel-of-Ease to Moseley was built at the expense of Miss Anderton, of Moseley Wake Green, the consecration taking place Sept. 22, 1874. The living is valued at £150, and is in the gift of the Vicar of Moseley, the present incumbent being the Rev. J. Leverett, M.A. Half the 400 seats are free.

_St. Asaph's_, Great Colmore Street,--the freehold of the site was given by Mr. Cregoe Colmore, and the erection of the church, which yet wants the tower and spire, cost £5,450. The cornerstone was laid Aug. 22, 1867, and the building was consecrated Dec. 8, 1868. There are 950 sittings, of which 500 are free. Trustees present. The living, value £300, being now held by the Rev. R. Fletcher, M.A.

_St. Augustine's_, Hagley Road, the foundation stone of which was laid Oct. 14, 1867, was consecrated September 12, 1868, the first cost being a little over £9,000, but a tower and spire (185 ft. high) was added in 1876 at a further cost of £4,000. It is a Chapel-of-ease to Edgbaston, in the gift of the Bishop. Value £500. Held by Rev. J.C. Blissard, M.A. Seats, 650.

_St. Barnabas_, Erdington.--This church, originally built in 1823, at a cost of about £6,000, with accommodation for 700 only, has lately been enlarged so as to provide 1,100 sittings (600 free)--£2,700 being expended on the improvements. The Vicar of Aston is patron, and the living is valued at £300. The re-opening took place June 11, 1883. Rev. H.H. Rose, M.A., has been Vicar since 1850.

_St. Barnabas'_, Ryland Street.--First stone laid Aug. 1, 1859; consecrated Oct. 24, 1860; renovated in 1882. Has sittings for 1,050, of which 650 are free. Value £300, in the gift of trustees. Present Vicar, Rev. P. Waller. Services also at Mission Room, Sheepcote Street.

_St. Bartholomew's_.--The building of this church was commenced in 1749, the site being given by William Jennens, Esq., and £1,000 towards the building by his mother, Mrs. Anne Jennens. Lord Fielding also gave £120 to pay for an altar-piece, which is greatly admired. Surrounded for very many years by a barren-looking graveyard, the huge brick-built edifice was very unsightly, and being close to the Park Street burial ground it was nicknamed "the paupers' church." Since the laying out of the grounds, however, it has much improved in appearance. The Rector of St. Martin's presents, and the living is valued at £280. There are 1,800 sittings, 1,000 being free. Week-night services are also held in Mission Room, Fox Street.

_St. Catherine's_, Nechells.--Foundation stone laid July 27, 1877; consecrated November 8, 1878; cost nearly £7,000; seats 750, more than half being free. Yearly value £230; in the gift of trustees. Present vicar, Rev. T.H. Nock, M.A.

_St. Catherine's_ Rotton Park.--The Mission Room in Coplow St., in connection with St. John's, Ladywood, is the precursor of this church yet to be built.

_St. Clement's_, Nechells.--First stone laid, October 27, 1857; consecrated August 30, 1859. Seats 850 (475 free). Vicarage, value £300, in the gift of Vicar of St. Matthew's. Present incumbent, Rev. J.T. Butlin, B.A. Services also at Mission Room, High Park Street.

_St. Cuthbert's_, Birmingham Heath, was commenced April 19, 1871; opened March 19, 1872, and has seats for 800, half being free. Yearly value £250; in the hands of trustees. Present incumbent, Rev. W. H. Tarleton, M.A.

_St. Cyprian's_, Hay Mill.--The foundation-stone of this church (built and endowed by J. Horsfall, Esq.), was laid April 14, 1873, and the opening services were held in the following January. The ceremony of consecration did not take place until April 23, 1878, when a district was assigned to the church. Rev. G.H. Simms is the present Vicar, and the living (value £150) is in the gift of the Bishop.

_St. David's_, Bissell Street--First stone was laid July 6, 1864, and the building was consecrated in the same month of the following year. The cost of erection was £6,200, and there is accommodation for 955, 785 seats being free. The living (value £300) is in the gift of trustees, and is at present held by Rev. H. Boydon, B.A. Week night services also at Mission Room, Macdonald Street.

_St. Edburgh's_,--The parish church of Yardley, dating from Henry VII.'s reign, contains monuments relating to several of our ancient families of local note. The living is a vicarage (value £525) in the gift of the Rev. J. Dodd, the present vicar being the Rev. F.S. Dodd, M.A. There is accommodation for 600, a third of the seats being free.

_St. Gabriel's_, Pickford Street.--The first stone was laid in September, 1867, and the consecration took place Jan. 5, 1869. The sittings number 600, most being free. The living (value £300) is in the gift of the Bishop, and is held by the Rev. J.T. Tanse, vicar. A mission room at the west end of the church was opened Dec. 14, 1878. It is 105ft. long by 25ft. wide, and will seat 800. The cost was about £3,500, and it is said the Vicar and his friends saved £2,500 by building the rooms themselves.

_St. George's_.--When first built, there were so few houses near Great Hampton Row and Tower Street, that this church was known as "St. George's in the Fields," and the site for church and churchyard (3,965 square yards) was purchased for £200. The foundation stone was laid April 19, 1820, and the consecration took place July 30, 1822. The tower is 114ft. high, and the first cost of the building was £12,735. Renovated in 1870, the church has latterly been enlarged, the first stone of a new chancel being placed in position (June, 1882) by the Bishop of Ballarat, formerly rector of the parish. This and other additions has added £2,350 to the original cost of the church, which provides accommodation for 2,150, all but 700 being free seats. The living (value £500) is in the gift of trustees, and the present Rector is the Rev. J.G. Dixon, M.A. The church was re-opened March 13, 1883, and services are also conducted in New Summer Street and in Smith Street Schoolrooms.

_St. George's_, Edgbaston.--First stone laid Aug. 17, 1836; consecrated Nov. 28, 1838. Cost £6,000. Perpetual curacy (value £300), in the gift of Lord Calthorpe. 1,000 sittings, of which one-third are free, but it is proposed to considerably enlarge the building, and possibly as much as £8,000 will be spent thereon, with proportionate accommodation.

_St. James's_, Ashted.--Originally the residence of Dr. Ash, this building was remodelled and opened as a place of worship, Oct. 9, 1791. As Ashted Chapel it was sold by auction, May 3, 1796. Afterwards, being dedicated to St. James, it was consecrated, the ceremony taking place Aug. 7, 1807. The living (value £300) is in the gift of trustees, the present vicar being the Rev. H.C. Phelps, M.A. Of the 1,350 sittings, 450 are free, there being also a mission room in Vauxhall Road.

_St. James's_, Aston.--The mission room, in Tower Road, in connection with Aston Church, is known as St. James's Church Room, it being intended to erect a church on an adjoining site.

_St. James's_, Edgbaston, which cost about £6,000, was consecrated June 1, 1852, and has 900 sittings, one-fourth being free. Perpetual curacy (value £230) in the gift of Lord Calthorpe. The 25th anniversary of the incumbency of the Rev. P. Browne, M.A., was celebrated June 7, 1877, by the inauguration of a new organ, subscribed for by the congregation.

_St. James's_, Handsworth, was built in 1849, and has 800 sittings, of which one half are free. The living (value £300) is in the gift of the Rector of Handsworth, and the present vicar is the Rev. H.L. Randall, B.A.

_St. John's_, Deritend.--The "Chapel of St. John's," was commenced in 1375; it was licensed in 1381 by the monks of Tickford Priory, who appointed the Vicars of Aston, in which parish Deritend then was; it was repaired in 1677, and rebuilt in 1735. The tower was added in 1762, and clock and bells put in in 1776. This is believed to have been the first church in which the teachings of Wycliffe and the Reformers were allowed, the grant given to the inhabitants leaving in their hands the sole choice of the minister. This rite was last exercised June 15, 1870, when the present chaplain, the Rev. W.C. Badger, was elected by 3,800 votes, against 2,299 given for a rival candidate. There is accommodation for 850, of which 250 seats are free. It is related that when the present edifice was erected (1735) a part of the small burial ground was taken into the site, and that pew-rents are only charged for the sittings covering the ground so occupied. The living is valued at £400. For a most interesting account of this church reference should be made to "Memorials of Old Birmingham" by the late Mr. Toulmin Smith. Services also take place at the School Room, and at the Mission Room, Darwin Street.