St Mary's, Acocks Green
St Mary's at Acocks Green is one of the grandest of Birmingham's suburban churches, built on a scale that cannot fail to impress, despite the absence of either a tower or spire of any kind (a steeple was originally intended but never realised). It is set back slightly from the main road in a large leafy churchyard surrounded by memorials (that almost appear to be marching towarsds it from westerly directions).
The church was built in 1866 to the designs of architect J.G.Bland and the large nave and aisles belong to this phase, the chancel was added somewhat later in 1894 to the designs of J.A.Chatwin and is of impressive proportions, being equal in height to the nave. The church was damaged by bombing in 1940 which caused the loss of the nave roof and most of the glass. Postwar restoration saw the nave roof rebuilt at a less steep pitch and the clerestories rebuilt and heightened with twin lancet windows (in place of the previous rosette oculi).
The interior has an almost cathedral-like feel owing to the proportions, the soaring chancel in particular making a fitting climax to the interior with the church's finest features, a richly sculpted alabaster reredos and a stunning east window by Morris & Co depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, mostly to the designs of Sir Edward Burne Jones. The window was fortunately removed to safety at the outbreak of war and thus happily survived the bombing that destroyed the remainder of the Victorian glass. The church is thus now mainly plain-glazed, which at least keeps it flooded with light. Many of the Victorian fittings and details still survive, such as the finely carved capitals in the nave.
St Mary's isn't normally open to visitors outside of service times so I timed my visit to coincide with a brief opening during Heritage Week in September. It may open for coffee mornings on select days (my original plane was to visit during one of these prior to Covid). The church is worth seeing for its ambituous scale and ornate sanctuary, but it is the striking Burne Jones glass that above all else justifies a visit here.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_the_Virgin,_Acocks_Green
St Mary's, Acocks Green
St Mary's at Acocks Green is one of the grandest of Birmingham's suburban churches, built on a scale that cannot fail to impress, despite the absence of either a tower or spire of any kind (a steeple was originally intended but never realised). It is set back slightly from the main road in a large leafy churchyard surrounded by memorials (that almost appear to be marching towarsds it from westerly directions).
The church was built in 1866 to the designs of architect J.G.Bland and the large nave and aisles belong to this phase, the chancel was added somewhat later in 1894 to the designs of J.A.Chatwin and is of impressive proportions, being equal in height to the nave. The church was damaged by bombing in 1940 which caused the loss of the nave roof and most of the glass. Postwar restoration saw the nave roof rebuilt at a less steep pitch and the clerestories rebuilt and heightened with twin lancet windows (in place of the previous rosette oculi).
The interior has an almost cathedral-like feel owing to the proportions, the soaring chancel in particular making a fitting climax to the interior with the church's finest features, a richly sculpted alabaster reredos and a stunning east window by Morris & Co depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, mostly to the designs of Sir Edward Burne Jones. The window was fortunately removed to safety at the outbreak of war and thus happily survived the bombing that destroyed the remainder of the Victorian glass. The church is thus now mainly plain-glazed, which at least keeps it flooded with light. Many of the Victorian fittings and details still survive, such as the finely carved capitals in the nave.
St Mary's isn't normally open to visitors outside of service times so I timed my visit to coincide with a brief opening during Heritage Week in September. It may open for coffee mornings on select days (my original plane was to visit during one of these prior to Covid). The church is worth seeing for its ambituous scale and ornate sanctuary, but it is the striking Burne Jones glass that above all else justifies a visit here.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_the_Virgin,_Acocks_Green