St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston
Encyclopedia
The Church of St Augustine of Hippo in Lyttelton Road, Edgbaston
, Birmingham
, England
is a parish church
in the Church of England
.
which bears its name. It is one of the very few Anglican churches dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo
. It is Grade II* listed.
was consecrated in 1838 and St James's in 1852.
In 1864, Joseph Gillott
, the wealthy pen manufacturer, who was then resident in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, discussed with J. A. Chatwin
the location for a new church.
Following an open competition, the design by J. A. Chatwin
was chosen. Chatwin had suggested "forming an island site a short distance from the Hagley Road which should be approached by a straight road from that thoroughfare". This site was offered to the ecclesiastical authorities for a new church as existing church accommodation was inadequate for the population of 18,000. A Subscription Account raised £9,000 (£ as of ), for the building of a church dedicated to St Augustine of Hippo.
The body of the church, its chancel, nave and aisles were consecrated in 1868 by the Bishop of Worcester
.
The tower and spire, 185 feet high and the tallest in Birmingham, were added in 1876 at a cost of £4,000 (£ as of ),. The body of the church is in the Geometric Gothic
style and has a striking painted chancel ceiling representing chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation
and some very good stained glass by Hardman & Co.
There is a wealth of stone carving inside, much of it by John Roddis, including a reredos with its representation of the Last Supper
based upon Leonardo da Vinci
's design, and unusual capitals on the nave pillars representing the four seasons and twelve months of the year.
Just before the Second World War the South transept, underneath the tower, was cleared of pews to create a Lady Chapel
. This is surrounded on two sides by a parclose screen, completed after the war, and carved partly in an Art Nouveau
style by Robert Pancheri.
A new baptistry created in the North transept
in 1964 was designed by George Pace
and a spacious narthex
, designed by P. B. Chatwin
(Chatwin's son), was added in 1968 to mark the church's centenary year.
d choir. Past Masters of Music have included Alfred Robert Gaul and Sir William Henry Harris
. The composer Herbert Howells
wrote his 'St Augustine's Service' for the choir in 1967.
can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register
Edgbaston
Edgbaston is an area in the city of Birmingham in England. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. The constituency includes the smaller Edgbaston ward and the wards of Bartley Green, Harborne and Quinton....
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
is a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
Background
St Augustine's Church stands at the centre of a conservation areaConservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
which bears its name. It is one of the very few Anglican churches dedicated to St. Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
. It is Grade II* listed.
History
By 1851, houses had been built spasmodically along the Hagley Road as far as Rotton Park Road. Portland & York Roads were cut during this decade. As Edgbaston's population grew, the Church of England responded by building new churches and St. George's Church, EdgbastonSt. George's Church, Edgbaston
St. George's Church, Edgbaston is a parish church in the Church of England in Edgbaston, Birmingham.-History:It was built in 1836-8 as a chapel-of-ease to St. Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston....
was consecrated in 1838 and St James's in 1852.
In 1864, Joseph Gillott
Joseph Gillott
Joseph Gillott was an English pen-maker and patron of the arts.- Pen manufacturing :For some time he was a working cutler in his home town Sheffield, but in 1821 he moved to Birmingham, where he found employment in the steel toy trade, the technical name for the manufacture of steel buckles,...
, the wealthy pen manufacturer, who was then resident in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, discussed with J. A. Chatwin
J. A. Chatwin
J. A. Chatwin FRIBA, RBS, FSAScot , was a designer of buildings and the most prolific architect involved with the building and modification of churches in Birmingham, England, building or altering many of the parish churches in the city. He used both the Gothic and Classical styles...
the location for a new church.
Following an open competition, the design by J. A. Chatwin
J. A. Chatwin
J. A. Chatwin FRIBA, RBS, FSAScot , was a designer of buildings and the most prolific architect involved with the building and modification of churches in Birmingham, England, building or altering many of the parish churches in the city. He used both the Gothic and Classical styles...
was chosen. Chatwin had suggested "forming an island site a short distance from the Hagley Road which should be approached by a straight road from that thoroughfare". This site was offered to the ecclesiastical authorities for a new church as existing church accommodation was inadequate for the population of 18,000. A Subscription Account raised £9,000 (£ as of ), for the building of a church dedicated to St Augustine of Hippo.
The body of the church, its chancel, nave and aisles were consecrated in 1868 by the Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
.
The tower and spire, 185 feet high and the tallest in Birmingham, were added in 1876 at a cost of £4,000 (£ as of ),. The body of the church is in the Geometric Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style and has a striking painted chancel ceiling representing chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
and some very good stained glass by Hardman & Co.
Hardman & Co.
Hardman & Co., otherwise John Hardman Trading Co., Ltd., founded 1838, began manufacturing stained glass in 1844 and became one of the world's leading manufacturers of stained glass and ecclesiastical fittings...
There is a wealth of stone carving inside, much of it by John Roddis, including a reredos with its representation of the Last Supper
Last Supper
The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
based upon Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
's design, and unusual capitals on the nave pillars representing the four seasons and twelve months of the year.
Just before the Second World War the South transept, underneath the tower, was cleared of pews to create a Lady Chapel
Lady chapel
A Lady chapel, also called Mary chapel or Marian chapel, is a traditional English term for a chapel inside a cathedral, basilica, or large church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary...
. This is surrounded on two sides by a parclose screen, completed after the war, and carved partly in an Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
style by Robert Pancheri.
A new baptistry created in the North transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
in 1964 was designed by George Pace
George Pace
George Pace , English architect, was born in Croydon, Surrey.He won many prizes as a student including the Pugin Studentship in 1937 and the RIBA Asphitel Prize for the best architectural student in England....
and a spacious narthex
Narthex
The narthex of a church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper...
, designed by P. B. Chatwin
P. B. Chatwin
P. B. Chatwin was an architect in Birmingham, England.From 1866 he worked with his father, architect J. A...
(Chatwin's son), was added in 1968 to mark the church's centenary year.
Music
The church has a notable choral tradition, being the first Anglican church in Birmingham to have a surpliceSurplice
A surplice is a liturgical vestment of the Western Christian Church...
d choir. Past Masters of Music have included Alfred Robert Gaul and Sir William Henry Harris
William Henry Harris
Sir William Henry Harris was an English organist and composer, affectionately nicknamed 'Doc H' by his choristers.Harris was born in Fulham, London and died in Petersfield. He was a chorister of Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill...
. The composer Herbert Howells
Herbert Howells
Herbert Norman Howells CH was an English composer, organist, and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church music.-Life:...
wrote his 'St Augustine's Service' for the choir in 1967.
Organ
The organ is by Hill with work by Rothwell and Nicholson. A specification of the organcan be found on the National Pipe Organ Register
Directors of Music
- Alfred Robert Gaul 1868 - 1913
- William Henry HarrisWilliam Henry HarrisSir William Henry Harris was an English organist and composer, affectionately nicknamed 'Doc H' by his choristers.Harris was born in Fulham, London and died in Petersfield. He was a chorister of Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill...
1913 - 1919
- Thomas William North 1919 - 1955
- Philip Moore 1956 - 1960
- Roy Massey 1960 - 1965
- Derek Williams 1965 - 1972
- Philip Godden 1973 - 1975
- Nigel Argust 1975 - 1979
- Norman Dyson 1979 - 1987
- Christopher Harker 1985 - 2004
- Darren Hogg 2004 - 2008
- Paul Richards 2008 -