Christ Church, Catshill
| Christ Church, Catshill | |
|---|---|
 Christ Church, Catshill | |
Christ Church, Catshill | |
| 52°21′49.1″N 2°3′49.1″W / 52.363639°N 2.063639°W | |
| Location | Catshill |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 6 December 1838 |
| Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Grade II listed[1] |
| Designated | 1 November 1972 |
| Architect | Harvey Eginton |
| Style | Early English Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 5 July 1837 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 520 persons |
| Length | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Width | 30 feet (9.1 m) |
| Height | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Worcester |
| Archdeaconry | Dudley |
| Deanery | Redditch and Bromsgrove[2] |
| Parish | Catshill |
Christ Church, Catshill is a Grade II listed parish church in the Church of England in Catshill, Worcestershire.
History
The church was built in 1838 paid for by public donations and a substantial contribution from the Worcester Diocesan Church Building Society. It was designed by Harvey Eginton, architect of Worcester, and consecrated by the Lord Bishop of Rochester, Rt. Revd. George Murray on 6 December 1838[3]
The churchyard was consecrated in 1848.
The poet A. E. Housman was baptised in the church on 24 April 1859.[4]
The vicarage (now 242 Stourbridge Road) was built in 1870-71. Later the vicarage moved to 240 Stourbridge Road, and that building is now known as the Old Vicarage.
In 1885 the vicar, Revd. James Kidd, launched a campaign to raise £800 for the extension of the church.[5] The plan was to add on a chancel, and two transepts to provide accommodation for another 100 persons. This work was completed in 1887 at a cost of £1,185 (equivalent to £134,716 in 2025)[6] by the architect J. A. Chatwin.[7] A pulpit of Caen stone and choir stalls made of oak were presented to the church. Two stained glass commemorative windows by Burlison and Grylls were also given.
In memory of Christopher Morcom who died aged 18 on 13 February 1930, his mother commissioned a stained-glass window designed by the artist Karl Parsons. Installed in 1931 as the east window of the chapel, it depicts Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child across a river on his shoulders; the face of the child was probably modelled after that of Morcom.
The chapel was re-ordered in 1936 by G.E.S. Streetfeild.
In 1977 Snell & Thompson screened off part of the nave under the west gallery to provide upper and lower rooms.[8]
Vicars
- Thomas Housman 1838 - 1864[9]
- Henry John Liddon 1864 - 1868
- James Kidd 1868 - 1917[10]
- Arthur Douglas Ager 1917 - 1919[11]
- J. Chavasse Karn 1920 - 1925
- David T.L. Steward 1925 - 1933[12]
- H.J.M. Hall 1933 - 1939[13]
- Alfred Woolcock from 1939
- W. Hugh Millett
- Reginald Burley
- Philip Darby 1980 - 1988[14]
- Richard Harding 1995 - 2002
- Amanda Arthur 2024 - current
Status
The church is in a joint parish with:
- St John the Baptist Church, Bromsgrove
- St Godwald’s Church, Finstall Road, Bromsgrove
- St Andrew’s Church, Charford, Bromsgrove
- All Saints’ Church, Bromsgrove
- Holy Trinity and St Mary’s Church, Dodford
- St Luke’s Church, Marlbrook
- St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Stoke Prior
- St Mary De Wyche Church, Wychbold
- St Michael’s Church, Upton Warren
Organ
The organ was built by Hewins of Stratford-upon-Avon and opened by A.J. Sainsbury on All Saints’ Day, 1884.[15] It contains two manuals and 12 speaking stops. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[16] The organ case was designed by F.C. Eden, architect of London, with hand carving, gilding, shields and scrolls, all executed by Mr. Forbes of London in 1897.[17]
Bells
The church contains a chime of four bells, three date from 1913 and the fourth from 1914, all by John Warner & Sons.
Clock
The church clock bell dates from 1839 and was cast by Thomas Mears.
References
- ↑ Historic England. "Christ Church (Grade II) (1099541)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "Christ Church". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "Consecration of Christ Church Chapel at Catshill, Near Bromsgrove". Worcester Journal. United Kingdom. 13 December 1838. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975 for Alfred Edward Housman", Baptism record via Family Search.org
- ↑ "Catshill". Bromsgrove and Droitwich Messenger. United Kingdom. 10 October 1885. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ UK Consumer Price Index inflation figures from 1209–2024 based on data from "Inflation calculator". Bank of England. London. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ "Reopening of Catshill Church". Worcester Journal. United Kingdom. 27 August 1887. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ Brooks, Alan; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2007). The Buildings of England. Worcestershire. Yale University Press. pp. 216–7. ISBN 9780300112986.
- ↑ "Bromsgrove". Worcestershire Chronicle. United Kingdom. 9 March 1864. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Death of the Rev. James Kidd". Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger. United Kingdom. 21 July 1917. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Funeral of the Revd. A.D. Ager". Tewkesbury Register. United Kingdom. 19 November 1932. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "New Suffolk Clergymen". Suffolk Chronicle. United Kingdom. 3 February 1933. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Catshill Vicar to Leave". Evening Despatch. United Kingdom. 5 August 1939. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Dynamo in a dog-collar". Birmingham Mail. United Kingdom. 12 August 1988. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Catshill". Bromsgrove and Droitwich Messenger. United Kingdom. 3 November 1894. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "NPOR [N03687]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "Catshill". Bromsgrove and Droitwich Messenger. United Kingdom. 26 June 1897. Retrieved 13 June 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.