St David's Church, Shenley Green

St David's Church, Shenley Green is a parish church of the Church of England located in Shenley Green, Birmingham.

St David's Church, Shenley Green
St David's Church, Shenley Green
52.4260°N 1.9735°W / 52.4260; -1.9735
CountryUnited Kingdom
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipBroad Church
Websitestdavidsshenleygreen.com
History
DedicationSt David
Consecrated9 May 1970
Architecture
Architect(s)Selby Clewer
Groundbreaking1 March 1969[1]
Construction cost£55,000[2] (equivalent to £905,100 in 2021)[3]
Specifications
Bells1
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseBirmingham
ArchdeaconryBirmingham
DeaneryKing's Norton[4]
ParishShenley Green
Clergy
Vicar(s)vacant

History

Until 1970 services were held in the church hall which was opened in 1962.[5] In February 1969, twelve Birmingham Scouts hauled 3 stones from St David’s Cathedral in Pembrokeshire to Shenley Green. The 200 mile journey took 56 hours with the scouts working in relay teams of 4 pulling a hand trek cart.[6] The stones were later included in the new church as foundation and consecration stones. The church was built between 1969 and 1970. It was consecrated on 9 May 1970 by Laurie Brown, Bishop of Birmingham.

It was designed by the architects of the Bournville Village Trust under the direction of Selby Clewer. Part of the parish was taken from that of St Gabriel's Church, Weoley Castle.

The vicarage adjacent to the church was built in 1969 for a cost of £11,585[7] (equivalent to £202,900 in 2021).[3]

Architecture

The church is dominated by its large lantern tower which not only illuminates the interior but also acts as a local landmark. The distinctive green copper roof was replaced with stainless steel in 2011-2012 after a number of thefts of copper sheeting.

The consecration stone, and dedication stones were brought from St David's Cathedral by the local scout troop in a handcart.

Organ

The church contains a pipe organ dating from 1970 by Bowen of Northampton. It was enlarged in 1999 by Trevor Tipple of Worcester. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[8]

List of incumbents
  • David Pendleton, 1959–1989
  • Chris Jackson, 1989–2001
  • Nick Evans, 2002–2015
  • Mark Bennett, 2016–2020

Sources
  • St David's Church History. Church pamphlet

References
  1. "Stones hauled from Wales for city church". Birmingham Mail. England. 3 March 1969. Retrieved 30 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Crowded aisles at dedication service". Birmingham Daily Post. England. 11 May 1970. Retrieved 22 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  4. "St David, Shenley Green". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  5. "Church Hall Dedicated". Birmingham Daily Post. England. 26 September 1962. Retrieved 23 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Be prepared: A good deed means a long haul". Birmingham Daily Post. England. 25 February 1969. Retrieved 30 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Parsonages". Birmingham Mail. England. 24 July 1969. Retrieved 30 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "NPOR [N01422]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
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