Weight: 280 lbs Diameter: 22" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by James Barwell 1889
Dove Bell ID: 56400 Tower ID: 21457 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Langley: St Michael & All Angels
Overview
Grid reference: SO 993 876
The building was designed jointly by Frank Osborn of Osborn & Reading and Enoch Wood of Wood & Kendrick and consecrated in October 1890. It was built to be the new parish church of Langley as housing serving the industrial factories of Oldbury spread to this previously rural area, replacing Holy Trinity which became a chapel of ease until its demolition in 1968. St Michael's is designed in the Early English style, with lancets and plate tracery. It is economically designed and constructed of good materials, particularly the moulded and hand-cut bricks deployed in bands, and finely pointed. The proportions and massing are good, and the church takes full advantage of its open location.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Symmetrical in plan, west porch, 4-bay aisled nave, transeptal with north organ chamber and vestry, south Lady Chapel, chancel with projecting sanctuary.
Dimensions:
Nave estimated to be c22m (75ft) x 7m (25ft).
Description of Archaeology and History
The building was designed jointly by Frank Osborn of Osborn & Reading and Enoch Wood of Wood & Kendrick and consecrated in October 1890. It was built to be the new parish church of Langley as housing serving the industrial factories of Oldbury spread to this previously rural area, replacing Holy Trinity which became a chapel of ease until its demolition in 1968. The church is basically structurally unchanged since; recently toilets have been installed in the porch.
Exterior Description
The church is designed in the Early English style, with lancets and plate tracery. It is economically designed and constructed of good materials, particularly the moulded and hand-cut bricks deployed in bands, and finely pointed. The proportions and massing are good, and the church takes full advantage of its open location. The west façade is quite impressive, with a gabled west porch which wraps onto the nave. This has a pierced arch stone parapet, over two double west doors with moulded pointed banded stone and brick heads. There is a triplet roof-light in the gable head, as there is above the nave west window, a 4-light stepped lancet with plate tracery in the head. There are angle buttresses which turn into turrets, asymmetrical in size, with spirelets and louvred belfry to the larger north turret.
The buttressed aisles and clearstorey have plain triple lancets to each bay, the transepts have shouldered doorways in the west walls, the south has a stepped triplet in the outer facing gable, the north a plate tracery 2-light. There are single lancets to the end walls. The lower chancel has a stepped 3-light lancet window in the chancel east wall, flanked by miniature turrets.
Building Fabric and Features
Porch
19th century west
Nave
19th century 4-bay aisled
Transept
19th century north and south
Organ (component)
19th century north chamber
Vestry
19th century
Lady Chapel
19th century
Chancel
19th century
Sanctuary
19th century
Building Materials
Brick
19th century red
Stone
19th century dressings
Slate
19th century roof tiles
Timber
19th century roof structure
Interior
Interior Description
Entering by the west doors one moves through a lobby flanked with toilets, then through modern glazed doors within a large triple arch, the outer arches now blocked. This is a bright, clean, uncluttered interior with plain pitch-pine pews. The pointed moulded brick arches to the arcades are carried on stone columns with simple moulded capitals and bases. Plastered walls, white mostly with blue for the Lady Chapel and organ pipes. There are some signs of water ingress.
The chancel is separated from the nave by a wrought iron open tracery screen set into a stone wall, the latter lowered in 1977. Flights of three steps lead up to the chancel and then the sanctuary, the latter panelled throughout. The east window has rere-shafts. Two rows of choir stalls to each side, with pierced quatrefoil backs and fronts. The large Lady Chapel is accessed from the chancel through a double arch, the organ pipes are displayed in the arch opposite.
Fine arch-braced scissor-truss nave roof taken down to moulded corbels, chancel and sanctuary with a simple wooden barrel vault. Tiled aisles and chancel, the floors are otherwise wood parquet, under blue carpet in the nave and chancel.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th century Oak altar, panelled, similar of 1908 in Lady Chapel.
Reredos
20th century Oak panelling of 1904 with traceried cornice, plainer panelling flanking this installed in 1970s. Similar plain panelling in Lady Chapel.
Pulpit
20th century The pulpit is of pine, octagonal, plain pointed arches to the panels.
Lectern
20th century Carved oak reading desk.
Font (component)
20th century Original font removed and replaced by font from St Chad, Smethwick, at east end of south aisle. Octagonal, plastered, carved panels to bowl, four brown marble columns from octagonal base. Wooden lid with scrolled wrought iron handle.
Stained Glass (window)
19th / 20th century • Three windows in east wall of 1890 with the Crucifixion, flanked by pelican, Agnus Dei in roundels, by Samuel Evans of the Smethwick studios. • In north aisle (1900) by Thomas William of the Smethwick studios, depicting Suffer the Children. • Three war memorial windows in south aisle, 1921. Similar of 1930. A panoply of Saints including St Michael and St George. Artists unknown, of some interest as a collection of this period. • Semi-abstract window in south aisle by Nora Yoxhall, 1977.
Inscribed Object
19th / 20th century • Plain arch-headed stone tablet to first vicar of Holy Trinity Langley, Revd Laing, 1846- retired 1898. • Similar recording the good works of Revd Pryor and various benefactors, 1895. • Elaborate stone tablet in memory of Elijah Hollins, died 1911, by his daughters, in whose memory the chancel screen was erected. • Various 20th-century brass plaques.
Organ (component)
19th century Three-manual organ built 1895 by Nicholson & Co, Palace Yard, Worcester. A good provenance, with some ‘improvements’ of 1984 by John F Lloyd. Two pitch-pine cases, painted pipes.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers 1890-1990 held by Sandwell Archive Service.
Bishops chair, 1950s
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 993 876
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
Sources
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