St John the Baptist's Church, Longbridge
St John the Baptist's Church, Longbridge is a parish church in the Church of England in Birmingham.[1]
St John the Baptist’s Church, Longbridge | |
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52°23′41.59″N 1°58′30.96″W | |
Location | Longbridge |
Country | England |
Denomination | Church of England |
Website | Longbridge Parish Church |
History | |
Dedication | St John the Baptist |
Consecrated | 1957 |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | G H While |
Groundbreaking | 1956 |
Completed | 1957 |
Administration | |
Diocese | Anglican Diocese of Birmingham |
Archdeaconry | Birmingham |
Deanery | Kings Norton |
Parish | Longbridge |
History
The church was designed by G H While[2] of Bromilow, While and Smeaton. The church was consecrated in 1957 and a parish was formed from St Nicolas' Church, Kings Norton at the same time. It was built to serve the expanding car-making area around the Longbridge plant.
The church is noted for five oak statues on the mullions of the west window designed by G H While and carved by the Robert Pancheri of Bromsgrove. The central figure is of St John the Baptist holding a cross, with a lamb lying on the Bible. Around him are depictions of Elijah with a raven, Isaiah with a branch, Ezekiel with a wheel and Jeremiah with a scroll.[3]
The church was used by the architect as a model for St Boniface's Church, Quinton which was built 2 years later.
Organ
A two manual organ from St Thomas in the Moors, Balsall Heath was installed in 1958 by Nicholson and Co of Worcester. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[4]
References
- The Buildings of England. Warwickshire. Nikolaus Pevsner. Penguin Books.
- "St John the Baptist, Longbridge". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- Public Sculpture of Birmingham. George T. Noszlopy. Liverpool University Press. 1998. ISBN 9780853236924
- "NPOR [D02875]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 25 February 2015.