Witton: All Souls
Overview
Grid reference: SP 75 904
Though not very large, the church is a substantial and well constructed building in a simple but eclectic Arts and Crafts manner which gives character to the area. The north flank is the most prominent (the west being screened by the hall and the south facing into gardens) and has a low aisle with three-light windows under rectangular heads to each bay, the bays divided by buttresses.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Cruciform with aisled and clerestoried nave, north and south porches; crossing tower with north transeptal organ chamber and south transeptal chapel ; chancel with north vestry. The hall adjoins the west end of the church.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was designed by Philip B. Chatwin, son of the more famous J.A. Chatwin and, like St. Peter's Church, Handsworth not far away, was built in the year of the latter's death, 1907, and shows many signs of his influence. The church cost £6,058 (including the hall) ; the foundation stone was laid by Kathleen Unite on 13 October 1906 and the church was consecrated on 9 November 1907.
Exterior Description
Though not very large, the church is a substantial and well constructed building in a simple but eclectic Arts and Crafts manner which gives character to the area. The north flank is the most prominent (the west being screened by the hall and the south facing into gardens) and has a low aisle with three-light windows under rectangular heads to each bay, the bays divided by buttresses. At the west end is a porch under a cross gable with a moulded brick arch to the doorway, the mouldings dying into the canted responds. To the west of this there is a two-bay arcade which houses the entrance to the hall. This is set at a slight angle to the church, with a roof running almost at right-angles to the chancel roof. The nave clerestory has windows similar to those of the aisle and the hall conceals a three-light window in the west gable of the nave.
The north transept is cross-gabled with three lancets at high level in the north wall to light the organ chamber and smaller windows below to light a vestry. There is also a doorway leading into a porch at the east end of the north aisle. The crossing tower is not tall, indeed it only has one shallow stage above the level of the nave ridge and this has paired belfry lights in small square recesses in each face. The parapet is straight but rises a few inches at each corner. It encloses a pyramidal slated roof. The chancel is quite shallow, and has a large five-light east window with tracery incorporating both foiled circles typical of geometrical tracery and panels typical of a much later date. The north and south walls are blind because of a vestry on the north and the chancel of the small chapel on the south. The south flank of the church is similar to the north except for details such as the transept having a pent roof rather than a cross-gable. The transepts do not project beyond the aisles.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
1932
The east window depicts Christ in Glory and All Souls: It is a good example of the work of the Bromsgrove Guild, being made by A.E. Lemmon in 1932. It is crowded with figures and local allusions. It is possible to distinguish Bishop Gore, the Vicar of the church, the church, the vicarage, Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham City Art Gallery, the local factory chimneys and so forth.
Stained Glass
1947
The south window of the south chapel is also by A.E. Lemmon but much later and rather derivative, depicting The Virgin Teaching Christ to Read and St. Joseph Making a Yoke.
Stained Glass
1906
South aisle: one window depicts Christ the Chief Cornerstone with Solomon and St. Barbara, in memory of John Webb and given by his workmen, 1906.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is mostly faced with exposed brick, but stone is used for the octagonal pillars of the nave arcade with their moulded octagonal capitals and for the triple attached shafts which carry the inner order of the chancel arch. The arches of the arcades. have two roll-mouldings and the chancel arch is similar. All are outlined with a stone moulding. At the east end of the south aisle an arch opens into a chapel south of the crossing and a further arch at the far side opens into a small sanctuary for this chapel. At the west end there is a door to the hall. The east end of the north aisle has a door to the vestry under the organ and beyond that another door opens into the clergy vestry on the north side of the chancel. There is an arch similar to the chancel arch on the east side of the crossing which opens into the sanctuary, the crossing itself housing the choir stalls. The sanctuary walls are plastered and painted.
The nave roof is supported on triple shafts like those of the chancel arch, and it is a simple but effective design in unstained wood, with tiebeams, king-posts and struts, and wind braces. Oddly the ceiling of the crossing appears to be a continuation of this, ignoring the tower above. The aisles have simple pent roofs. The alleys are paved with red tiles and the floors under the chairs are of wood blocks. The floor of the crossing is paved with terrazza and the sanctuary floor is paved with black and while marble squares.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1913
The altar came from St. Patrick's church (a daughter church of St. Alban's now demolished). It is of oak with an antependium of beate: brass depicting St. Patrick Preaching to the Irish, signed by L. Wright and dated 1913. Above the scene is the triangle of the Trinity in a shield. The brass was originally silvered.
Pulpit
The pulpit is a simple structure of framed linenfold panels, open above a dado; it came from St. Stephen New Town Row
Lectern
The lectern is an oak eagle
Font (object)
Early 20th Century
The font is octagonal, of stone with an alabaster dove fixed to the frong panel and given by the Vicarage Class of Holy Trinity, Birchfield (the mother church of this parish) in 1907. The oak cover dates from 1920.
Organ (object)
The organ came from Christ Church Birmingham by way of St. Mary, Whittall Street (both churches now demolished), and was rebuilt here in 1928 by Reginald Fisk of Wolverhampton; it has three manuals.
Screen
c.1920
The oak screen on the south side of the crossing is a War Memorial.
Rail
1948
The communion rails are also of oak, quite plain with rectangular open panels.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 75 904
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
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