| Description | There are a considerable number of ecclesiastical records within the collection presumably in part because Sir Richard Gough purchased the advowson St Bartholomew's, the main parish church (often referred to as Edgbaston Old Church) in 1725. Additionally many records related to tithes and corn rent exist as from 1590 the lords of the manor of Edgbaston leased tithes from the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield Diocese. These can be found at MS 2126/3/5y and throughout the correspondence series MS 2126/3/5f.
From 1810 St Bartholomew's was frequently rebuilt, extended and altered to accommodate the rapid growth in the number of parishioners associated with the development of the Estate. In 1836 - 1836 this resulted in the building of St George's chapel which later became a church in its own right. It was closely followed by St James's in 1852 and a series of other Victorian and Edwardian new builds and missions. The Calthorpe's were a predominant influence in funding and directing this work.
This part of the collection includes material relating to the assignation of parish boundaries, contracts for building, a limited number of architectural plans and correspondence re such subjects as the propriety of allowing the solemnisation of marriages or baptisms in the new churches. Material may also be found relating to vicarages and parsonages. The core of the material in this section was assembled in the Calthorpe Estate Office and was known as in Estate Box 6.
Here follows a list of dates related to Edgbaston ecclesiastical establishments. As far as the archivist is aware there is no material relating to the Oratory in the collection but dates are included here for comparison. By and large the Gough-Calthorpe's were Anglican, even evangelical Anglican, and David Cannadine states they ''would not offer accommodation to dissenters'' (see D. Cannadine, Lords and Landlords (Leicester, 1980), pp. 211 -215 for his assessment of religious life on the Estate).
1552 - St Bartholomew's has 3 bells.
1590 - From this point onwards, Lichfield Dean and Chapter recorded as leasing tithes of the parish to the lord of the manor of Edgbaston.
1658 - St Bartholomew's 1st referred to as a parish church, estimate of £800 to rebuild it.
1684 - St Bartholomew's rebuilding complete.
1685 - St Bartholomew's has 4 bells.
1725 - Edgbaston Roman Catholic School founded. Advowson St Bartholomew's granted to Sir Richard Gough for consideration of £200 endowment and repairs, further £200 from Queen Anne's bounty.
1781 - St Bartholomew's has 5 bells.
1810 - St Bartholomew's extended, removal of arcade, addition of new roof etc as the systematic development of Edgbaston as an urban area really begins.
1836 - John Joseph Scholes contracted to build the new chapel of St George's which later becomes a church in its own right.
1838 - St George's built under direction of George Gough-Calthorpe.
1845 - St Bartholomew's extended to include galleries.
1846 - Edgbaston Parochial School opened.
1852 - Tithe commutation confirmed at £131 12s 6d, St James built by Frederick Gough-Calthorpe, designed by S.S. Teulon. The parishes of St James and St George assigned [cost £3,000] out of St Bartholomew. Cardinal J H Newman's Oratorians move to Hagley Road [later Beech Lanes for some properties].
1856 - St Bartholomew's extended with a south aisle, Chancel added to St George's by Charles Edge. Oratorians open Poor School.
1868 - St Augustine's built, designed J.A. Chatwin.
1884 - New nave and chancel at St George's by J.A. Chatwin.
1885 - St Bartholomew's extended, serious alterations. St Mary and St Ambrose mission church founded.
1889 - St Bartholomew's extensions include a 2nd south aisle. St Augustine's parish assigned.
1891 - St Monica Mission licensed.
1896 - St Germain mission licensed.
1897 - St Mary and St Ambrose built possibly by J.A. Chatwin.
1898 - St Bartholomew's has 6 bells.
1899 - St Monica enlarged.
1903 - St Mary and St Ambrose parish assigned. Oratory church rebuilt as monument to Cardinal Newman, by Dorian Webb.
1917 - St Germain second church built, by E.F. Reynolds.
1920 - St Germain parish assigned out of St Augustine.
1927 - St Bartholomew's bells recast and total increased to 8.
Sources: Documents in MS 2126/3/9, D. Cannadine, Lords and Landlords (Leicester, 1980), C. Upton, A History of Birmingham (Chichester, 1993), T. Slater Edgbaston: A History (Chichester, 2003), M. Hampson, Images of England Series: Edgbaston (Stroud, 1999), N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, Volume 31: Warwickshire (Harmondsworth, 1966) |