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St Matthew Church Duddeston
- Thread starter LindyB65
- Start date
Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
Hallo, Lindy,
St Matthews Church is still standing - or at least was when I walked past it a few months ago. There are other sources on the web, but I suggest you start with the following.
https://brummages.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html
The picture below is nicked from that excellent site.
Peter
St Matthews Church is still standing - or at least was when I walked past it a few months ago. There are other sources on the web, but I suggest you start with the following.
https://brummages.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html
The picture below is nicked from that excellent site.
Peter
K
Kandor
Guest
St Mathews IS still standing, but it no longer functions as a Church, there is new, more modern building behind it,
My Sister Norma got married there in 1961 and my sister Rita was also married there in 1975.
And last but not least my Paternal Grandmother is buried there, no grave marker now though as the family were asked if they could resite her grave in a different part of the grounds..
Cannon Thomas who ruled the roost throughout the 60's was one of the greatest men I've ever known.
My Sister Norma got married there in 1961 and my sister Rita was also married there in 1975.
And last but not least my Paternal Grandmother is buried there, no grave marker now though as the family were asked if they could resite her grave in a different part of the grounds..
Cannon Thomas who ruled the roost throughout the 60's was one of the greatest men I've ever known.
Nigel Cripps
New Member
The attached photo has been found in the church. It has trolley bus wires (2 sets) so must have been taken between 1922 and 1940. A more accurate date would be welcome.
Attachments
Nigel Cripps
New Member
Does anyone have a list of the Vicars of this church?
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
cannon thomas was ok. he was friends with my nan
i used to look after the plumbing tec.there one night i had a phone call off him. saying he was up to his ankles in holy water. a radiator had sprung a leak.lol
Radiorails
master brummie
Canon Thomas.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
Thanks Alan for pic.
bless him. he was very kind.
Radiorails
master brummie
Most of the overhead wiring was not removed until a few years later. Bits, here and there, were removed to replace damaged tramcar overhead, but that still left a lot intact. Not sufficient of course to re-instate trolleybuses, particularly as motor buses had taken their place.
joeboybollo
proper brummie kid
He used to go around the local pubs collecting (for the church,I hope)
Nanny Irene
New Member
Hi there, just thinking about, as my family knew him, Vicar Thomas. He was a fantastic person a true Christian. I married and moved out of the area to King's Heath. When my second daughter was born in 1978 I was told in no uncertain terms unless a regular visitor to the local church the baptism would not be welcome. Mom said why not speak to vicar Thomas. What a fantastic reception we received. All children are welcome into the church of God he told me and he would be honoured to officiate at the service, especially as he remembered the Freeman family of Cato Street, my grandparents. I was asked by a friend if he would be willing to baptise her two girls as she felt guilty they had never had this done. Whe I asked Vicar Thomas he said "why not? The more the merrier Jesus suffered little children to come to him, why should I not follow in His footsteps? He was a regular in the local pubs, of which there were many! Seems like one on each corner of every street. He was therewith his collection tin and was always willing to help those in need. The vicarage was at the top of Cato Street, if I remember rightly. My nan lived at 111 opposite the Midland Counties Dairy. Mom told me that on a few occasions nan and my uncles would see Vicar Thomas home after falling off his bicycle, after his visits with his collection tin. I am sure if more clergy were as good as Vicar Thomas then the churches would not be emptying at the rate they are. I have tried several churches run by different clergy. I am afraid none could come close to the family feeling we all had when attending with Vicar Thomas in charge. My photos have been put on memory sticks but I will try and see if I can fine the ones of the inside of St.Matthews church it is beautiful. Only found this forum today and have been reading for over 2 hours reliving memories of my childhood. So grateful people are all willing to share.
Nanny Irene
New Member
Just as I remember him from my childhood.
WelshBrummie03
master brummie
Thanks all, my Nan and Granddad got married here
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
i loved the harvest festival there
The church of St Matthews Duddeston was built in 1840 in the simple Gothic style. The architect was William Thomas (1799 – 1860). The construction was financed by the Birmingham Church Building Society. When opened it was referred to as St Matthew’s in the wilderness because the area was rural but urbanising quickly. St Matthew’s was built as a daughter church of Aston Parish Church. However, the “daughter”, built to seat 1,300 people, was much bigger than the “mother” and became a parish church in its own right in 1842.
In 1866 galleries were added by J Chatwin that increased the capacity to 1300. A major restoration was undertaken in 1883. A photograph of 1900 shows a tall steeple that has long gone. In 1951 a united benefice was established with St Anne’s Duddeston, St Catherine’s Nechells, and St Lawrence all churches that had originally been given parish status from the original larger St Matthew’s parish. At this time a vicarage and church hall were constructed within the church grounds.
Slum clearances began in the 1930s and were completed in the 1960’s. In addition the Great Lister Street shopping area was removed and Great Lister Street replaced by the Nechells Parkway duel carriageway that was constructed to the north of the church. Associated with these changes the area became depopulated and adjacent parishes of St Clements Nechells, and St James the Less Ashted were amalgamated into St Matthews. All of the church buildings associated with these parishes were disposed off except for the redundant site of St James (church bombed) which is a closed graveyard and public open space.
By the late 1980s it was evident that the church building had structural problems and was too large for current requirements. An imaginative scheme costing over £1 million was completed in 1994 that installed office accommodation at the west end of the building with the remaining 50% of the worship area at the East end. The worship area can seat 250 and is an attractive airy space with modern furniture, lighting and fitments, with a gallery, ancillary rooms and kitchen. A new welcoming entrance foyer was built between the Church and Church Hall, creating a new church entrance at the East end of the building. The front part of the church was rededicated for church use in 1994. The original West entrance serves the office accommodation.
The church of St Matthews Duddeston was built in 1840 in the simple Gothic style. The architect was William Thomas (1799 – 1860). The construction was financed by the Birmingham Church Building Society. When opened it was referred to as St Matthew’s in the wilderness because the area was rural but urbanising quickly. St Matthew’s was built as a daughter church of Aston Parish Church. However, the “daughter”, built to seat 1,300 people, was much bigger than the “mother” and became a parish church in its own right in 1842.
In 1866 galleries were added by J Chatwin that increased the capacity to 1300. A major restoration was undertaken in 1883. A photograph of 1900 shows a tall steeple that has long gone. In 1951 a united benefice was established with St Anne’s Duddeston, St Catherine’s Nechells, and St Lawrence all churches that had originally been given parish status from the original larger St Matthew’s parish. At this time a vicarage and church hall were constructed within the church grounds.
Slum clearances began in the 1930s and were completed in the 1960’s. In addition the Great Lister Street shopping area was removed and Great Lister Street replaced by the Nechells Parkway duel carriageway that was constructed to the north of the church. Associated with these changes the area became depopulated and adjacent parishes of St Clements Nechells, and St James the Less Ashted were amalgamated into St Matthews. All of the church buildings associated with these parishes were disposed off except for the redundant site of St James (church bombed) which is a closed graveyard and public open space.
By the late 1980s it was evident that the church building had structural problems and was too large for current requirements. An imaginative scheme costing over £1 million was completed in 1994 that installed office accommodation at the west end of the building with the remaining 50% of the worship area at the East end. The worship area can seat 250 and is an attractive airy space with modern furniture, lighting and fitments, with a gallery, ancillary rooms and kitchen. A new welcoming entrance foyer was built between the Church and Church Hall, creating a new church entrance at the East end of the building. The front part of the church was rededicated for church use in 1994. The original West entrance serves the office accommodation.