St David's Church, Highgate

St David’s Church, Highgate
Map
52°28′7.8″N 1°53′34.1″W / 52.468833°N 1.892806°W / 52.468833; -1.892806
LocationBirmingham
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
History
DedicationSt David
Consecrated24 October 1865
Architecture
Architect(s)William Martin
Groundbreaking6 July 1864
Completed1865
Construction cost£6,200
Closed1947
Specifications
Capacity955 people
Length140 feet (43 m)
Width90 feet (27 m)
Nave width52 feet (16 m)
Height150 feet (46 m)

St David's Church, Bissel Street, Highgate is a former Church of England parish church in Birmingham.

History

The foundation stone was laid on 6 July 1864 by the Bishop of Worcester, the Rt. Revd. Henry Philpott.[1] It was designed by William Martin of Martin & Chamberlain and built by J & W Webb of Great King Street. It was consecrated on 24 October 1865 by the Bishop of Worcester.[2] A parish was assigned out of St Luke's Church, Bristol Street, Birmingham in 1866.

The church was the scene of a suffragette protest in 1914 during the visit of the Bishop when a woman called out for the Bishop to pray for Margaret Haley and all suffragette prisoners.[3] She was ejected from the church. Just before his sermon, the Bishop was interrupted by three other suffragettes who called for him to speak out against the torture. As the suffragettes left the church, they had to be protected by the police against an indignant crowd.[4]

The church closed in 1947 and has been demolished. The parish was assigned back to St Luke's Church, Bristol Street, Birmingham.

Organ

The organ was installed by Banfield shortly after the church was consecrated.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Laying the Foundation Stone of St David's Church". Birmingham Daily Post. Birmingham. 7 July 1864. Retrieved 10 March 2015.(Subscription or UK public library membership required)
  2. ^ "Consecration of St David's Church". Birmingham Journal. Birmingham. 5 August 1865. Retrieved 10 March 2015.(Subscription or UK public library membership required)
  3. ^ "Uproar in a Church". Birmingham Gazette. Birmingham. 6 July 1914. Retrieved 10 March 2015.(Subscription or UK public library membership required)
  4. ^ "Women followed by indignant crowd in Birmingham". Birmingham Daily Mail. Birmingham. 6 July 1914. Retrieved 10 March 2015.(Subscription or UK public library membership required)
  5. ^ "The Organ of St David's Church". Aris’s Birmingham Gazette. Birmingham. 26 August 1865. Retrieved 10 March 2015.(Subscription or UK public library membership required)