Weight: 2376 lbs Diameter: 50.5" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by James Barwell & Co 1902
Dove Bell ID: 65664 Tower ID: 25808 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Springhill: St Peter
Overview
Grid reference: SP 53 875
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
The church consists of chancel with north vestries and organ chamber above, south chapel, nave with clearstory, north and south transeptal chapels, north and south aisles, south-west tower and west porch. The three west bays of the nave have been partitioned off and floored over above capital level to provide a large hall over an entrance hall and meeting room together with a kitchen and other facilities.
Dimensions:
Chancel 7.65m by 11m, south chapel 5.05m by 7.7m, nave 7.75m by 29.2m, north and south transepts 5.9m by 9.25m, north and south aisles 3.7m wide and south-west tower 4m by 4m.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church replaced St. Peter, Dale End, a Greek Revival church of 1827 by Rickman and Hutchinson that was nearer the centre of Birmingham and was demolished in 1899. The church at Springhill was built under the Birmingham Churches Act 1897; it was designed by F. B. Osborn and consecrated in 1906. In 1966 the church was reordered, the altar moved forward and the choir stalls removed. In 1967 the three west bays of the nave were partitioned off and a floor inserted. A new entrance hall was made in the fourth bay from the east, entered from porches in the north and south aisles. The architects were Denys Hinton and Associates of Leamington Spa.
Exterior Description
This is a large and elaborate church in late Gothic style. The composition of the exterior viewed from the south is lively with a great variety of gabled compartments, both axial and transverse, stabilised by the massive tower at the south-west corner. Detailing is robust and stone has been used economically but to good effect. The gabled chancel has octagonal corner turrets topped with miniature belfries and spires, together with gabled buttresses of two stages weathered below. On the north are vestries and on the south a parallel, gabled chapel with two-stage weathered buttresses and plain eaves. The nave is also gabled and has an almost continuous clearstory. There are transverse chapels of two bays on both sides; that on the north is a parallel compartment, but on the south the chapel is at right angles and has two gables facing south. Both chapels are wider than the aisles and have gabled porches in the re-entrant angles and buttresses of two weathered stages. The aisles are low and have similar buttresses. New entrances have been made in the central bays on each side by inserting a steel joist below the arched heads of each three light window and removing the brickwork below. The openings are filled with steel railings with gates and inner porches have glazed walls. At the west the gabled end of the nave is framed between an octagonal corner turret similar to those at the east and the tower; below is a porch with three gables with doorways in the outer bays. Over the west window is a statue of St. Peter in a canopied niche and above a finial and cross. The tower rises in four stages and has weathered angle buttresses. The ground stage has a door with pointed head on the west and a pointed two light window on the south. The second stage has two-light windows with pointed heads on three sides and the third has rectangular windows of two lights. The belfry stage is tall and has two large pointed openings on each face. The parapet is crenellated between four massive corner pinnacles.
Inside the nave has been cut in half and the north aisle screened off, but what remains is still impressive. The east bay of the chancel has windows on the north and south, each of two cusped lights with decorated tracery under a pointed head. The west window is of five lights, divided by a transom with Perpendicular tracery under a pointed head. The two remaining bays are separated from the sanctuary by full height wall-shafts and are arcaded. The arcade on the north is the taller and houses a double organ loft with curved fronts supported on a stone screen of four bays with four-centred heads that also gives access to the vestries. The lower arches on the south are similar, being plain-chamfered with labels, and give access to the south chapel. This has a window of three lights at the west and a pair with two lights on the south. All have pointed heads and Perpendicular tracery. The chancel arch is tall and wide, the rectangular inner order carried on shafts with moulded caps and bases, and is framed by a continuous wave-moulded outer order. The division is also marked by three steps.
Building Fabric and Features
Chancel
20th century
Vestry
20th century
Organ (component)
20th century chamber
Chapel (component)
20th century south
Aisle
20th century
Nave
20th century
Kitchen
20th century
Building Materials
Brick
20th century red
Stone
20th century dressings
Tile
20th century plain red, roofs
Cast Iron
20th century rainwater goods
Interior
Interior Description
The nave is of six bays with arcades and clearstory on both sides, except on the south of the west bay. This is the site of the tower, the ground stage of which is open to the nave. Both arcades are divided by a respond between bays two and three that marks the division between chapels and aisles. The arches are pointed and of two chamfered orders. Capitals are octagonal and have wave- and hollow-moulded capitals and bases. The clearstory has two windows per bay and each consists of two cusped lights under a four- centred head and label. The bays are framed by wall shafts that rise from above the piers. At the west a pair of doors open into the porch and above is a window of five lights similar to that in the east wall of the chancel. The north and south chapels have pairs of matching windows in the outer walls. Each is of three ogee lights with Perpendicular tracery under a pointed head. The chapels are connected to the aisles by arches of almost triangular profile. The aisles are lit by groups of three ogee lights except in the east bays where there are two lights against the chapel porches.
The work of 1967 consists of a concrete floor at capital level in the three west bays of the nave and aisles supported on concrete beams, brick piers and cross-walls. The elevation to the nave consists of a glass screen divided by brick piers at the lower level above which is a large white rectangular screen with peripheral glazing in panels to allow for the arched profile of the roof. The screen has a pair of loading doors above which is a large crucifix.
The chancel roof is of three bays defined by arched principals with wall posts that are supported on the foliate caps of the wall shafts. The wagon roof is boarded and divided into panels by moulded ribs and purlins. The nave roof is divided into six bays by principal trusses with collars and arch braces that rise from the foliate caps of the wall shafts. The collars carry king and queen posts. There are intermediate principals of the same form but they spring from wall plate level. These trusses support three tiers of side purlins and the upper and lower pairs have vertical arched wind braces that span the bays. The roofs of the aisles and chapels are less elaborate.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century a) The main altar is made of oak and has a plain open front c.1906. b) The south chapel altar is made of oak and has four plain panels at the front c.1906. c) The north chapel altar is made of pine and has a single large panel at the front made of plywood, possibly 1966.
Reredos
20th century The reredos of 1906 in the south chapel against the east wall is not in its original position and may have come from the chancel when the church was reordered in 1966. It consists of two low sections of oak panelling flanking a higher centre piece with three tiers of panels, the upper being decorated with floral carving above which is a coved cornice decorated with running vine and brattishing, both gilded.
Pulpit
20th century The pulpit and reading desk are set at each side of the chancel arch on stone plinths that frame the chancel steps. They are both made of light stained oak, are similar in design and date from c.1906. They each consist of two carved panels, the inner angled back to join with the splay of the respond of the nave arcade. The front panels facing the nave are identical and have an open cusped arch framed by roundels. The side panel of the pulpit carries a carved figure of St. Peter while that of the reading desk is worked as an arcade. Both have a coved cornice and a plain wooden book slope.
Lectern
20th century The lectern in the north chapel has a plain wooden book slope and square-section steel stem and base painted black c.1966.
Font (component)
20th century The font is made of limestone and dates from 1906. The bowl is octagonal and has straight sides with rectangular panels decorated with floral patterns and a dove. The stem is a cluster of four shafts with floral caps and water-holding bases standing on an octagonal base and plinth.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century Window I is dated 1902 and commemorates the building of the church and the move from St. Peter, Dale End. The main lights are canopied and depict scenes from the Crucifixion and the Nativity above in the tracery are the symbols of the Passion, the Evangelists and the Holy Trinity. Window s III is at the east end of the south chapel. It is in rather a poor Arts and Crafts style and dates from c.1906. The subject is the Annunciation and the window is in memory of Ada H. Parker.
Plaque (component)
20th century a) Brass plaque on black marble ground, in memory of Ada H. Parker (wife of first Vicar). b) Brass plaque on black marble ground, in memory of William Henry Parker (first Vicar 1902-1923). c) Metal plaque on oak ground, in memory of Guy Copeland Stanbridge (Vicar 1923-59) and Mary Isabel his wife.
Organ (component)
20th century The organ has two manuals and is by Norman and Beard Ltd. Norwich and London.
Rail
20th century a) Two lengths of communion rail flank the altar that now occupies a central position in the chancel. They originally stood at the sanctuary step and ran straight across the chancel and had a central opening. Each section is an open arcade of five bays with half round shafts and segmental cusped arches, framed by miniature buttresses and with a flat top rail c.1906. b) The rails in the north chapel consist of a pair of substantial timber rails supported on square section steel uprights painted black c.1966.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
The Registers are deposited in the Birmingham City Central Library.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 53 875
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Submit a change
If you notice something incorrect or missing, please explain it in the form below and submit it to our team for review.