Constructed at the start of the 18th Century as a parish church for central Birmingham, St. Philip’s became the city’s cathedral in 1905.
Having been built, to accommodate rising congregations, at the point when Birmingham began to rapidly expand; St. Philip’s can in many ways could be considered to have developed alongside the city that it serves. It is easy to read the story of Birmingham’s path to modernity through the fabric of the building and the items and religious artifacts that it contains.
The Cathedral is built in the baroque style and its interior is largely in the same early 18th Century style. As an architectural style baroque is deeply influenced by the designs of the classical world, albeit heavily filtered through a northern European lens.
Affluent Birmingham residents in the 19th Century paid for the church to be partially remodeled. Changes in worship style led to chancel being extended under the direction of local architect J.A. Chatwin (who also worked on the refurbishment of Edgbaston Old Church). Between 1885 and 1897 the Birmingham born pre-raphaelite Sir Edward Burne-Jones designed and produced a series of stained glass windows illustrating key scenes from the life of Christ. The glass work was done by William Morris’ firm.
Changing ideas about worship have led to further changes since St. Philip’s became a cathedral in 1905. The fixtures installed for the Bishop of Birmingham, like the bishop’s throne, are grand and heavy, showcasing the power and authority of the Church of England and the British state. More recent additions to the Cathedral such as the font, which dates from the early 1980s and the more modern religious art are a lot lighter and speak to a growing sense in the second half of the 20th Century that the church should display openness and sense of equality. Some of the recent additions to the church speak other cultures around the world reflecting the diverse nature of Birmingham’s population in the 21st Century.
Photographs of St. Philip’s and its surroundings
Entrance to the Cathedral
Walking towards the Cathedral from the city centre across the Cathedral Grounds (known locally as Pigeon Park).
Civic memorial to the 29 fatally wounded victims of the Birmingham Pub Bombings in 1974. It stands in the Cathedral grounds
Close up of the memorial statue to Charles Gore the first Bishop of Birmingham
Memorial statue to Charles Gore the first Bishop of Birmingham, “enthroned” in 1905.
Objects and Ornamentation Inside St. Philip’s
Ornate iron work and dark wooden paneling in the entrance hall of St. Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham.
This plaque erected when St. Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham was just a humble parish church, remembers the “assistance” that Robert Walpole, the first and so far longest serving British Prime Minister, rendered in getting the church built in the early 18th Century.
This ornate column holding up the roof of St. Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, harks back to the classical (pre-Christian) era.
Sitting high above the organ at St. Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham, these carvings say something about the important of both secular and religious authority within the Church of England. The crown symbolises the role of the monarch (and by extension Parliament and the state) in the running of what is the UK’s official religion. The bishop’s hats flanking it represent the importance of the clergy, church hierarchy and religious scholarship in the spiritual government and leader of the church.
These embossed roses are on the ceiling of St. Philip’s Cathedral, Birmingham.
This carved Bishop’s hat signifies that the seat below is the Bishop of Birmingham’s seat at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham. This important chair has a connection to the meaning of the word “cathedral” itself. The Latin for throne is “cathedra”, bishops are described as being “ex cathedra” (trans. “on the throne”). As such the bishop’s chair itself has great importance within the branches of Christianity-like Anglicanism-which have bishops.
The Bishop of Birmingham’s seat at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham. This important chair has a connection to the meaning of the word “cathedral” itself. The Latin for throne is “cathedra”, bishops are described as being “ex cathedra” (trans. “on the throne”). As such the bishop’s chair itself has great importance within the branches of Christianity-like Anglicanism-which have bishops.
The Bishop of Birmingham’s seat at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham. This important chair has a connection to the meaning of the word “cathedral” itself. The Latin for throne is “cathedra”, bishops are described as being “ex cathedra” (trans. “on the throne”). As such the bishop’s chair itself has great importance within the branches of Christianity-like Anglicanism-which have bishops.
The Bishop of Birmingham’s seat at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham. This important chair has a connection to the meaning of the word “cathedral” itself. The Latin for throne is “cathedra”, bishops are described as being “ex cathedra” (trans. “on the throne”). As such the bishop’s chair itself has great importance within the branches of Christianity-like Anglicanism-which have bishops.
Some of the intricate detail on the painted ironwork at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Some of the intricate detail on the painted ironwork at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
A close up of some of the buttons and keys on the console that the organist uses to play the organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
A close up of some of the buttons and keys on the console that the organist uses to play the organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
This is the console that the organist uses to play the organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
This is the console that the organist uses to play the organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
This is one of several cherubs that decorates the casing of the organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
This is one of several cherubs that decorates the casing of the organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
This pair of cherubs decorate the casing of the organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
These pipes and the console form part of the very big, highly decorated, organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
These pipes form part of the very big, highly decorated, organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
These pipes and the console form part of the very big, highly decorated, organ at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
The word “hearts” forms part of a larger inscription on the font used for baptisms at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
A fish and a Roman cross, two of the oldest Christian symbols. They are seen here on top of the font used for baptisms in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
The view down the chancel towards the altar at St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Close up of a heavily stylised contemporary religious sculpture decorating the wall in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Close up of a heavily stylised contemporary religious sculpture decorating the wall in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
A heavily stylised contemporary religious sculpture decorating the wall in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
This small Greek Orthodox style icon sits near the altar at St. Philip’s Cathedral Birmingham. It is a Bytantine style depiction of Saint Philip after whom the Cathedral is named. Its presence signifies a relationship and interplay with another Christian denomination, largely located in a different part of the world.
Close up of a piece of contemporary art, in the form of a cross, located in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
A piece of contemporary art, in the form of a cross, located in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
The pews near the altar where the choir sits in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Close up of a heavily stylised modern religious sculpture decorating the wall in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Close up of a heavily stylised modern religious sculpture decorating the wall in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Close up of a heavily stylised modern religious sculpture decorating the wall in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Close up of a heavily stylised modern crucifix hanging over a small side chapel altar in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
A heavily stylised modern crucifix, with supporting candle holders, hangs over a small side chapel altar in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Plaques commenorating the tenures of past Bishops of Birmingham in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Stained Glass Inside St. Philip’s
Nativity and Crucifixion
Full length picture of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the gatherings at the birth of Jesus.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the gatherings at the birth of Jesus.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the gatherings at the birth of Jesus.
Full length picture of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the death of Jesus.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the death of Jesus.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the death of Jesus.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the gatherings at the birth of Jesus.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the gatherings at the birth of Jesus.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the gatherings at the birth of Jesus.
Commemorative plaque celebrating Edward Burne-Jones’ stained windows in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham.
Accession and Return
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the disciples watching Jesus ascend to heaven.
Full length picture of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the disciples watching Jesus ascend to heaven.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing the disciples watching Jesus ascend to heaven.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing Jesus arrayed in heaven.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing Jesus arrayed in heaven.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing Jesus arrayed in heaven.
Close up of Edward Burne-Jones’ window in St. Philips’ Cathedral, Birmingham; showing Jesus arrayed in heaven.
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