Anglican Church Of St George

The Anglican Church of St George is situated on Westbourne Crescent in Edgbaston, Birmingham. It is constructed of sandstone with a slate roof and was built in three distinct phases, designed by Joseph John Scoles (1836-8), Charles Edge (1855-7), and J.A. Chatwin (1884-5). The ritual east end is oriented to the south-east compass point, and all directional references in the description follow this ritual orientation.

EXTERIOR

The original church designed by Scoles was relatively simple, consisting of a nave and aisles under separate pitched roofs without a chancel. The north aisle contains six bays of lancet windows separated by buttresses, with a simple corbel table below the parapet. A door opens to the western end of the aisle, and a gabled porch is situated at the west end. An illustration from 1847 shows the west end had more elaborate gable treatment with pinnacles and a rose window (possibly blind), details which may have been removed following bomb damage in 1943.

The chancel designed by Charles Edge (1855-7) continues the overall style of the Scoles building, featuring lancet windows to the north and east sides and on the vestry. An octagonal clock tower is set in the re-entrant angle between the north aisle and chancel. The nave and chancel by Chatwin (1884-5) follows this pattern of respectful adaptation. Its south aisle reproduces the overall pattern of the north aisle but is lower to accommodate a clerestory above with paired lights featuring cusped heads. The chancel has an eastern window of five lancet lights. To its south side stands the lowest stage of a planned steeple, which together with its circular staircase turret is capped by a temporary pitched roof.

INTERIOR

The nave and north aisle of 1836-8 remain largely intact. The nave has a panelled ceiling with two circular metal ventilation grilles at the centre. The tall, slender columns dividing the nave from the aisle consist of clusters of colonettes with waterholding moulding to the base. Mouldings to the underside of the north gallery survive within the parish room, and the gallery appears to retain its original bench seating with pipes for gas standards to the backs. The former seating has otherwise been removed.

The chancel by Charles Edge originally displayed the Ten Commandments in black lettering on its east wall, but following its conversion to a Lady chapel in 1935, this is now covered by a reredos and panelling. The screen dividing this space from the body of the nave dates from this period or slightly earlier.

The nave and south aisle by Chatwin follow the module of Scoles' church, with columns placed at the same distance and presumably using some of the earlier foundations. The nave is divided into bays by colonettes, and every two clerestory windows correspond to one arch of the nave arcade, except at the eastern end where the arcade arch at each side spans a full two bays in width. The substantial roof features cusped wind braces and trusses with queen struts.

The church contains fittings of high quality. The font and pulpit are of ashlar and alabaster, richly carved. The choir stalls are also richly carved. The organ features a case designed by Chatwin and carved by Bridgeman, positioned in the lower stage of the unfinished tower. The stained glass is particularly notable, with memorial windows by Kempe in the Lady chapel (Tree of Jesse), Heaton Butler and Bayne, John Hardman, and Burlison and Grylls. The floor is tiled throughout the body of the church, with mosaic pavements in the chancel depicting the Evangelists and St. George. A carved oak royal coat of arms, made in 1839 and formerly positioned on the front of the western gallery, now hangs on the west wall.

HISTORY

In 1831 Samuel Wheeley left £500 for the construction of a new church or chapel in the parish of Edgbaston. The site, formerly known as Tinsel Field, was given by Lord Calthorpe, who also provided the remaining funds for construction, amounting to almost £6,000. Scoles' first building had a capacity of nearly 1,000 worshippers, of which 200 were free places. The building was originally a chapel of ease to St. Peter's Harbourne, but became a parish church in 1852. In 1849 pillar gas lighting was installed, pipework from which still survives in the north gallery. As the congregation grew, Charles Edge was commissioned to design a new chancel, attached vestry, and clock tower at the eastern end, completed by 1857. This new chancel was used primarily to accommodate additional seating rather than as a ritual space. Continued growth led to the appointment of Reverend Charles Ansfield as vicar in 1883, and in 1884 J.A. Chatwin drew up plans for a large new nave and chancel attached to the south side, at a cost of approximately £6,000. By 1891 the font, pulpit, choir stalls, screens, and mosaic chancel floors had all been fitted. A notable series of memorial stained glass windows were added in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The former chancel was converted to a Lady chapel in 1935. In 1936 the north aisle under the gallery was enclosed and equipped as a choir vestry, now serving as a parish room. The church sustained damage from wartime bombing in 1943 at the west end of the Scoles nave.