Birmingham Cathedral (St. Philip's)
Birmingham Cathedral
Birmingham's church of St Philip was designed by Thomas Archer in 1709 and largely finished by 1715 (the tower being completed 1725). The original stone weathered badly so the exterior was entirely refaced in the 1860s (though the tower had to wait till 1958) and a new larger chancel replaced Archer's shallow apse at the east end in 1883-4 (by J.A, Chatwin).
The church was designated as the cathedral of the new Birmingham Diocese in 1905 and is one of the only 'parish church cathedrals' which hasn't undergone any structural alteration since it's change in status. It does still possess the feel of a grand city church, rather than a cathedral in the true sense.
The real treasure of this church however is revealed within, as the interior is dominated by four superb stained glass windows by Edward Burne Jones dating from the 1880s (three in the apse, one at the west end). These are perhaps Burne Jones's finest achievements, and intentionally so, for it was in this very church the artist was baptised.
Birmingham Cathedral (St. Philip's)
Birmingham Cathedral
Birmingham's church of St Philip was designed by Thomas Archer in 1709 and largely finished by 1715 (the tower being completed 1725). The original stone weathered badly so the exterior was entirely refaced in the 1860s (though the tower had to wait till 1958) and a new larger chancel replaced Archer's shallow apse at the east end in 1883-4 (by J.A, Chatwin).
The church was designated as the cathedral of the new Birmingham Diocese in 1905 and is one of the only 'parish church cathedrals' which hasn't undergone any structural alteration since it's change in status. It does still possess the feel of a grand city church, rather than a cathedral in the true sense.
The real treasure of this church however is revealed within, as the interior is dominated by four superb stained glass windows by Edward Burne Jones dating from the 1880s (three in the apse, one at the west end). These are perhaps Burne Jones's finest achievements, and intentionally so, for it was in this very church the artist was baptised.