Page:Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham.djvu/248

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236
SHOWELL'S DICTIONARY OF BIRMINGHAM.

in the gift of trustees, and is now held by the Rev. J. S. Owen.

St. Matthews, Great Lister Street, was consecrated October 20, 1840, and has sittings for 1,400, 580 seats being free The original cost of the building was only £3,200, but nearly £1,000 was expended upon it in 1883. Five trustees have the gift of the living, value £300, which is now held by the Rev. J. Byrchmore, vicar. The Mission Room, in Lupin Street, is served from St. Matthew's.

St. Matthias's, Wheeler Street, commenced May 30th, 1855, was consecrated June 4, 1856. Over £l,000 was spent on renovations in 1879. The seats (1,150) are all free. The yearly value of the living is £300, and it is in the gift of trustees. The vicar is the Rev. J. H. Haslam, M.A.

St. Michaels, in the Cemetery, Warstone Lane, was opened Jan. 15, 1854, the living (nominal value, £50) being in the gift of the directors. Will accommodate 400-180 seats being free.

St. Michael's, Northfield.—Of the original date of erection there is no trace, but it cannot be later than the eleventh century, and Mr. Allen Everett thought the chancel was built about 1189. The five old bells were recast in 1730, by Joseph Smith of Edgbaston, and made into six. The present building was erected in 1856-7, and has seating for 800, all free The living, valued at £740, is held by the Rev. R. Wylde, M.A , and connected with it is the chapel-of-ease at Bartley Green.

St Michael's, Soho, Handsworth, was opened in 1861. It has 1,000 sittings, one-half of which are free. The living is valued at £370, is in the gift of the Rector of Handsworth, and is now held by the Rev. F. A. Macdona.

St. Nicolas, Lower Tower Street.—The foundation stone was laid Sept. 15, 1867; the church was consecrated Jul 12, 1868, and it has seats for 576 persons, the whole being free. The Bishop is the patron of the living, value £300, and the Vicar is the Rev. W. H. Connor, M.A.

St. Nicholas, King's Norton.—This church is another of the ancient ones, the register dating from 1547. It was partially re-erected in 1857, and more completely so in 1872, more than £5,000 being expended upon it. The Dean and Chapter of Worcester are the patrons of the living (nett value £250), and the Vicar is the Rev. D. H. C. Preedy. There arc 700 sittings, 300 of which are free.

St. Oswald's, situated opposite Small Heath Park, is an iron structure, lined with wood. It will seat about 400, cost £600, and was opened Aug. 10, 1882, being for the present in charge of the clergyman attached to St. Andrew's.

St. Patrick's, Highgate Street—Erected in 1873, at a cost of £2,300, as a "School-chapel" attached to St. Alban's, and ministered unto by the Revds. J. S. and T. B. Pollock. 800 seats, all free.

St. Paul's, in St. Paul's Square.—The first stone was laid May 22, 1777, and the church was consecrated June 2, 1779, but remained without its spire until 1823, and was minus a clock for a long time after that. The east window in this church has been classed as the A1 of modern painted windows. The subject, the "Conversion of St. Paul," was designed by Benjamin West, and executed by Francis Eggington, in 1789-90. In May, 1876, the old discoloured varnish was removed, and the protecting transparent window re-glazed, so that the full beauty and finish of this exquisite work can be seen now as in its original state, Of the 1,400 sittings 900 are free. The living is worth £300, in the gift of trustees, and is held by the Rev. R. B. Burges, M.A., Vicar.

St Paul's, Lozells.—The first stone was laid July 10, 1879, and the building consecrated September 11, 1880. The total cost was £8,700, the number of sittings being 800, of which one half