I've only just found this thread. My brother, the former Rev M H Bryant, sometimes attended St Mary's when he was at home from university, before he was ordained. It was very high church, and so was he. He became friendly with an elderly minister, but not I think the parish priest at the time (who I believe was Father Hobson). This old priest took to calling at our house at all times of day and night - he was very frail in all respects, and eventually my dad had to have 'a word' with him. As far as I can remember he lived on church property somewhere, but obviously wasn't looking after himself properly. I only ever went into St Mary's once, and thought it a rather dim and dreary place. I also knew the organist, the late Don Page, who was a member of Erdington Operatic Society.
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