St George's Church, Edgbaston
St. George's Church, Edgbaston, is a parish church in the Church of England in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
| St. George's Church, Edgbaston | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | www.stgeorgesedgbaston.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. George |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Edgbaston |
| Diocese | Birmingham |
| Province | Canterbury |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | Revd. Julian Francis |
| Laity | |
| Organist/Director of music | Phil Ypres-Smith |
| Organist(s) | Shari Ann Bolton |
History
It was built in 1836–38 as a chapel-of-ease to St. Bartholomew's Church, Edgbaston.
The original building consisted of a nave and two aisles, with galleries. The architect was J.J. Scoles.[1]
In 1856 the church was enlarged with the addition of a chancel, to a design by the architect Charles Edge.
The building was transformed in 1884-5 by the addition of the existing spacious and lofty nave, chancel and south aisle by the leading Birmingham architect J. A. Chatwin. The old nave became the north aisle, and the old chancel the Lady Chapel.
Fittings
The interior has fine woodwork by Bridgeman of Lichfield to the design of J. A. Chatwin or P. B. Chatwin. This includes
- Clergy and choir stalls and parclose screen (1885)
- Organ case (1890)
- Reredos (1903)
- Lady Chapel screen (1906);
Stained glass
There is late Victorian stained glass: by Burlison and Grylls, Heaton, Butler and Bayne, Hardman & Co. of Birmingham and most particularly a Jesse tree in the Lady Chapel by Charles Eamer Kempe.
List of vicars
- Isaac Spooner 1837–1848
- Edward Lillingston 1848–1864
- George Lea 1864–1883
- Charles Mansfield Owen 1883–1903?
- Arthur William Thomson Perowne
- Edgar Basil Turbeville Farncombe
- William James Hughes 1951–1953
George Browning MC
- Arthur Lewis Burrell
- Donald John Walter Bradley 1971-1984
- Robert William Grimley 1984–1997
- Simon Thorburn 1997–2009
- Julian Francis 2011-2019
Organ
The organ was built by Brindley & Foster in 1890[2] and is now defunct. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
List of organists
- Mr. Evans ???? - 1864 - 1865 - ???? (later organist of St Mary's Church, Selly Oak
- Charles John Blood Meacham 1888 – 1930[3][4] (formerly organist of St. Philips' Church, Birmingham)
- Leonard Norman Gibbons (formerly organist of St. Mary's Church, Selly Oak and deputy organist at St. Philip's Cathedral) 1930-1948
- David Bruce-Payne 1978 – 2003 (formerly organist of St. Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham)
- Philip Ypres Smith 2003 – present
References
- The Buildings of England, Warwickshire. Nikolaus Pevsner
- "St George's Church, Edgbaston. Dedication of the New Organ". Birmingham Daily Post. British Newspaper Archive. 14 July 1890. Retrieved 27 August 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Thornsby, Frederick W., ed. (1912) Dictionary of Organs and Organists. Bournemouth: Logan
- Thornsby, Frederick W., ed. (1921) Dictionary of Organs and Organists; 2nd ed. London: G. A. Mate