Church of the Messiah, Birmingham

The Church of the Messiah, Birmingham was a Unitarian church on Church Street. The congregation continues, having moved to purpose-built premises at Five Ways in 1973. The impressive Victorian building was demolished in 1978.[1]

Church of the Messiah
Former Church of the Messiah, Broad Street, Birmingham.
52.47792°N 1.91102°W / 52.47792; -1.91102
LocationBroad Street, Birmingham
CountryEngland
DenominationUnitarian
Architecture
Architect(s)John Jones Bateman
Groundbreaking1860
Completed1862 (1862)
Construction cost£10,000
Demolished1978 (1978)
Specifications
Capacity950 people
Length106 feet (32 m)
Width65 feet (20 m)
Height150 feet (46 m)

History

The foundation of the congregation goes back to 1692 when the first meeting house was built, afterwards known as the Lower Meeting House, Deritend. When the congregation outgrew this in 1732, they moved into a new chapel in Moor Street. By the 1860s this was also too small so a new church was commissioned. The Moor Street chapel was sold to a Roman Catholic congregation, and became St Michael's Church.

The new Church of the Messiah was built to designs by the architect John Jones Bateman, the contractors being George Branson and Edwin Gwyther.[2] The foundation stone was laid on 11 August 1860 and the church opened on 1 January 1862,[1][3] at a cost of £10,000. The site was unusual in that it straddled the Birmingham Canal,[1] forming part of the Broad Street canal tunnel.

Early members of the congregation included members of the Martineau family[4] who would produce many Birmingham Lord Mayors throughout the 19th and 20th centuries[5] and Samuel Carter.[6] Joseph Chamberlain,[1] and his son Neville Chamberlain, prime minister 1937–1940, attended services in this church.

Organ

An organ was provided by Nicholson of Worcester in 1862, but by 1882 the congregation had commissioned a new one from William Hill and Son at a cost of £1571.[7] This was rebuilt by Nicholson of Worcester in 1923. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[8]

Ministers

Organists
  • John Gilbert Mills, ca. 1923
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References
  1. Bartlam, Norman (2002). Broad Street Birmingham. Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-2874-3.
  2. The building contract and other related papers are held in the Library of Birmingham.
  3. Birmingham Journal, Saturday 4 January 1862.
  4. Briggs, Asa. "Victorian Cities". University of California Press, 1965 - Page 202. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  5. Wharton, Jane. "Kate Middleton is a Brummie and related to former prime minister". UK Daily Express - June 3 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  6. "Samuel Carter". Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  7. Pipes and Actions. Laurence Elvin. 1995
  8. National Pipe Organ Register
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