Weight: 156 lbs Diameter: 18" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry 1983
Dove Bell ID: 59929 Tower ID: 23446 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Smethwick: St Alban
Overview
Grid reference: SP 13 887
Before the pastoral scheme of 1982 the church consisted of chancel with north vestries and an organ chamber on the south, nave with north and south aisles and a baptistery at the west flanked by porches. There is an elaborate bellcote on the west gable.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Before the pastoral scheme of 1982 the church consisted of chancel with north vestries and an organ chamber on the south, nave with north and south aisles and a baptistery at the west flanked by porches. There is an elaborate bellcote on the west gable. The areas under consideration in this report are the chancel, north vestries and south organ chamber together with a small area of the east part of the north aisle that has been enclosed to form an entrance lobby to the chapel.
Dimensions:
Chancel, 8.85m by 5.8m.
Description of Archaeology and History
The industrial expansion of Smethwick began with the opening of the Soho Foundry in 1796. The population was 1,328 in 1811 but by 1891 it had increased to 36,171 and reached 54,539 by 1902. A scheme to divide the parish of Holy Trinity was first mentioned in 1899 and a mission was set up in Dribble Road in 1903, which was moved to the present site (Silverton Road) in 1905. Meanwhile plans for a new church were developing and George Ferguson Chance laid the foundation stone in October 1905. The church of St. Alban was consecrated in 1906 but it was not until 1909 that a separate parish was established. A second vestry was added in 1958.
The church was designed by Frederick T. Beck of Wolverhampton. Beck was also responsible for the chancel at All Saints, Wolverhampton (1894), the chapel of the Royal Wolverhampton School (1894), chancel fittings in St. George, Wolverhampton (1897- now redundant), St. John, Heath Hayes (1902), the rebuilding of the Georgian church of St. Thomas, Wednesfield after a fire and the provision of a new chancel (1913) and St. Chad and St. Stephen, Wolverhampton (both1907).
The church was the subject of a pastoral scheme in 1982 when the building west of the chancel was declared redundant and has become a very active community centre. Only the chancel was retained for worship as a chapel of ease. The adjacent church hall, hall and vicarage have been sold and the land used for housing.
Exterior Description
The chancel is semi-octagonal with buttresses at the angles that are sloped below and then rise vertically to small gables. The windows are set high and have a moulded brick string course at sill level and another at springing height that continues over the heads of the windows as hood moulds, pointed at the apex. The windows have four-centred heads; those in the canted walls are of a single light while those at the sides have two and the east window three. On the south side the organ chamber rises to the eaves level of the chancel and has a crenellated parapet but on the north the vestries are single storey and have plain parapets. The entrance is at the east of the north aisle and the doorway has splayed jambs and a four-centred head of two orders, the outer splayed and the inner hollow moulded.
Building Fabric and Features
Chancel
20th century
Vestry
20th century
Organ (component)
20th century chamber
Aisle
20th century north and south
Baptistery
20th century
Porch
20th century
Building Materials
Brick
20th century red, laid in Flemish bond
Terracotta
20th century dressings
Sandstone
20th century red, dressings
Concrete
20th century roof tiles
Interior
Interior Description
The chancel has been separated from the rest of the building by a block wall built into the chancel arch and a plain plastered wall on the west side of the organ chamber. The entrance lobby also has plastered walls. The worship space consists of the chancel and the former organ chamber and is L shaped in plan and very tall in proportion with the windows at an uncomfortably high level. This space is overpowered by a very large and dark reredos that occupies the apse up to the level of the windowsills. On the north is a low two-bay arcade that gives access to the rooms on that side and on the south of the apse is a sedilia of three equal recesses with cusped heads. The ceiling is flat with acoustic panels and the light fittings are modern. On the north side are the entrance lobby and two vestries, one original and the other of 1958 both are single storied and have flat roofs.
The body of the church has been considerably altered by the insertion of a floor in the nave and an upper level addition to the south aisle. Most of the windows have been replaced by timber casements and the ground floor has been fitted out as a dining area with kitchens, lavatories and cloakrooms.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century The altar is of oak and dates from c. 1920. It has three front panels with tracery and floral spandrels framed by narrower panels also with tracery. The central panel carries a carving in relief of a Pelican in its Piety.
Reredos
20th century The Reredos is also of oak and is similar in style to the altar, it has The Annunciation carved in relief on the lower part above which is a Crucifix set in front of a row of trefoiled panels. The cornice carries brattishing which has the text “Greater love…..” incorporated in such a way that it is almost illegible.
Lectern
20th century The lectern is made of oak and was presented to the church in 1924. It has a rectangular top with a slope carried on a chamfered stem with a heavily bracketed cruciform base.
Stained Glass (window)
20th century Only one window remains, in the vestry, that shows Christ and the Children, in memory of and designed and painted by William Marshall. It is dated 1963 but is entirely traditional. The stained glass in the chancel consisted of five lights depicting Christ the Saviour and the Evangelists; these have recently been removed and installed at the church of the Holy Trinity.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers: a) Marriages 1976 -. b) Baptisms 1951-. c) Services 1979-1995.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 13 887
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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