There has been a church on the site of St. Bartholomew’s (Edgbaston Old Church) since the middle ages. In many ways, with its ancient lychgate, ancient yewtrees and manorial funereal memorials located in the side chapels it is a quintessential Anglican parish church. St. Bartholomew’s is not, however; located in the sleepy shires, rather it can be found in Edgbaston, a wealthy inner suburb of Birmingham, a stone throw away from the University campus.
Looks can sometimes be deceptive. Whilst the core of the church does date back to the middle ages, when it was constructed a private chapel for Henry de Edgbaston (the local lord of the manor), much of the church that stands today was constructed in the 1880s, when in common with many other Anglican churches, the church was restored, extended and remodeled.
The restoration of St. Bartholomew’s was conducted by J.A. Chatwin a local architect, who is buried in the churchyard. Chatwin was a prolific designer and restorer of churches, and his work can be seen in many of the suburbs surrounding Birmingham. In keeping with the then highly fashionable gothic style, Chatwin’s work on the building sought to enhance the “medieval” aspects of the structure. Chatwin’s Victorian patrons took great comfort from the idea that they were worshiping in a building that bore a strong resemblance and connection to the buildings that their medieval predecessors gathered to celebrate their faith in.
Whilst the Victorian’s fantastic conception of medieval piety might seem odd or overly simplistic to us today, it continues to form the basis for popular conceptions of what a Church of England Church should look like. This makes St. Bartholomew’s, standing at the heart of the Edgbaston community, with its rich decoration and sumptuous stained glass windows, a brilliant archetype of what a traditional Anglican church is like.
Exterior Images of the Church
Approach to Edgbaston Old Church taking in parts of the graveyard several yew trees.
Panoramic view of the graveyard at Edgbaston Old Church including the lychgate over the entrance.
A yewtree growing beside Edgbaston Old Church. Yewtrees are traditionally planted in British graveyards, they grow very slowly and can live for hundreds of years. In fact it is claimed that some British examples of the species are more than 1,000 years old.
In the ancient graveyard gravestones are pressed up close to the church.
Edgbaston Old Church. The church’s name is picked out on a sign which also bears the Church of England’s logo.
Interior Images of the Church
The altar at Edgbaston Old Church.
The organ at Edgbaston Old Church. Organ music and hymns play an important part in Church of England services, they give the service structure and are one of the key ways in which members of the congregation participate.
Looking towards the altar at Edgbaston Old Church.
Looking up towards the altar at Edgbaston Old Church.
A close up of a typical early 19th Century memorial plaque inside Edgbaston Old Church. This one remembers a member of the Calthorpe family, who then as now were the lords of the manor (and primary landowners) in Edgbaston.
A typical, wealth person’s, late 18th Century memorial plaque inside Edgbaston Old Church.
Memorial to a local notable in Edgbaston Old Church. The dead man’s coat of arms recalls elements of the arms of the city of Birmingham.
The eagle lectern in Edgbaston Old Church. Common in Anglican places of worship, the eagle is chosen for the lectern supposedly to remind worshipers to remain focused on the word of God when readings and sermons are delivered. This is because eagles-reputedly-can look into the sun without squinting.
Eagle lectern in Edgbaston Old Church.
The Easter Eucharist sits on the eagle lectern in Edgbaston Old Church.
Plain old roof beams, supported by a stone arch in Edgbaston Old Church.
Panoramic view of the chancel in Edgbaston Old Church.
Looking down the chancel-and across the traditional pew arrangement-towards the altar in Edgbaston Old Church.
Book of Common Praise sits on a golden rail in Edgbaston Old Church.
Stone carving in Edgbaston Old Church.
Highly intricate decoration on a candle in Edgbaston Old Church.
Medieval stone work in Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained Glass Windows in the Church
Stained glass window over the altar at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
“Light of the World”. Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Jesus ascends to heaven. Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window over the altar at Edgbaston Old Church.
Jesus in the garden. Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Jesus calms the seas. Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window illustrating charity at Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Small stained glass windows showing the acts of Jesus, Edgbaston Old Church.
Small stained glass window showing the acts of Jesus, Edgbaston Old Church.
Small stained glass window showing the acts of Jesus, Edgbaston Old Church.
Small stained glass window showing the acts of Jesus, Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window of people, both on earth and in heaven, gathered around Jesus, Edgbaston Old Church.
The people, both on earth and in heaven, gather around Jesus. Stained glass window Edgbaston Old Church.
People gather around Jesus, stained glass window in Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window of a saint, with bell pulls in the foreground Edgbaston Old Church.
Stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Jesus calms the seas, detail from a stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Details of Sheppard in a large stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Detail of men embracing in a larger stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Detail of women in a larger stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
Detail of a child in a larger stained glass window at Edgbaston Old Church.
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