On Eighth.—"To honour both of God and King, our voices shall in concert ring."On Tenth.—"Our voices shall with joyful sound make, hills and valleys echo round."On Tenor.-"Let your ceaseless changes raise to our Great Maker still new praise."
The handsome appearance of the tower and spire, after restoration, contrasted so strongly with the "dowdy" appearance of the remainder of the church, that it was little wonder a more determined effort should be made for a general building, and this time (1872) the appeal was no longer in vain. Large donations were given by friends as well as by many outside the pale of the Church, and Dr. Wilkinson, the Rector, soon found himself in a position to proceed with the work. The last sermon in the old church was preached by Canon Miller, the former Rector, Oct. 27, 1872, and the old brick barn gave place to an ecclesiastical structure of which the town may be proud, noble in proportions, and more than equal in its Gothic beauty to the original edifice of the Lords de Bermingham, whose sculptured monuments have at length found a secure resting-place in the chancel of the new St. Martin's. From east to west the length of the church is a little over 155ft., including the chancel, the arch of which rises to 60ft.; the width, including nave (25ft.) and north and south aisles, is 67ft.; at the transepts the measure from north to south gives 104ft. width. The consecration and re-opening took place July 20, 1875, when the church, which will accommodate 2,200 (400 seats are free) was thronged. Several stained windows have been put in, the organ has been enlarged, and much done in the way of decoration since the re-building, the total cost bring nearly £25,000. The living (£1,048 nett value) is in the gift of trustees, and has been held since 1866 by the Rev. AV. Wilkinson, D.D, Hon. Canon of Worcester, Rural Dean, and Surrogate. The burial ground was closed Dec. 9, 1848.
St. Mary's, Acock's Green, was opened Oct. 17, 1866. The cost of erection was £4,750, but it was enlarged in £1882, at a further cost of £3^000 There are 720 sittings, 420 being free. The nett value of the living, in the gift of trustees, is £147, and the present vicar is the Rev. F. T. Swinburn, D.D.
St. Mary's, Aston Brook, was opened Dec. 10, 'l863. It seats 750 (half free), and cost £4,000 ; was the gift of Josiah Robins, Esq., and family. Perpetual curacy, value £300. The site of the parsonage (built in 1877, at a cost of £2,300), was the gift of Miss Robins. Present incumbent. Rev. F. Smith, M.A.
St. Mary's, Moseley. — The original date of erection is uncertain, but there are records to the effect that the tower was an addition made in Henry VIII's reign, and there was doubtless a church here long prior to 1500. The chancel is a modern addition of 1873; the bells were re-east about same time, the commemorative peal being lung June 9, 1874; and on June 8, 1878, the churchyard was enlarged by the taking in of 4,500 square yards of adjoining land. The living, of which the Vicar of Bromsgrove is the patron, is worth £280. and is now held by the Rev. W. H. Colmore, M.A. Of the 500 sittings 150 are free.
St. Mary's, Selly Oak, was consecrated September 12, 1861, having been erected chiefly at the expense of G. R. Elkington and J. F. Ledsam, Esqrs. There are 620 sittings, of which 420 are free. The living is in the gift of the Bishop and trustee; is valued at £200, and the present vicar is the Rev. T. Price, M.A.
St. Mary's, Whittall Street, was erected in 1774. and in 1857 underwent a thorough renovation, the reopening services being held August 16. There are 1,700 sittings of which 400 are free. The living is a vicarage, with an endowment of £172 with parsonage,
