Where is St George Edgbaston?

St George's Church is at 1 Westbourne Crescent, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3DQ. Near Calthorpe Road, Church Road, Westbourne Road and Highfield Road.

 

In brief

A Church of England church built in three phases from 1836 to 1885 in Edgbaston, Birmingham. It was designed by famous architects including Joseph John Scoles (1836-8), Charles Edge (1855-7) and J.A. Chatwin (1884-5).

St George's Edgbaston (June 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

St George Edgbaston - history

In 1831, Samuel Wheeley left £500 to build a church or chapel in the parish of Edgbaston. The site of the church was formerly known as Tinsel Field, it was given by Lord Calthorpe, together with the rest of the cost of building the church (almost £6000).

The first building was designed by Joseph John Scoles (built from 1836 until 1838). It was originally a chapel of ease to St Peter's Harborne, but in 1852 St George's became a parish.

In 1849 pillar gas lighting was installed, some pipe-work of which still survives in the north gallery. The congregation grew, and Charles Edge was commissioned (in 1855) to design a new chancel and attached vestry and clock tower to the eastern end of the church, this was completed by 1857.

A new vicar, the Reverend Charles Ansfield was appointed in 1883, and in 1884 plans were drawn up by Julius Alfred Chatwin for a large, new nave and chancel attached to the south side of the building, at a cost of £6000. By 1891 the font, pulpit, choir stalls and screens had all been fitted, as had the mosaic chancel floors.

A number of memorial stained glass windows were added by the end of the 19th century, and into the early years of the 20th century. The former chancel was converted into a Lady Chapel in 1935. In 1936 the north aisle under the gallery was enclosed and equipped as a choir vestry and now serves as a parish room. The church was damaged by wartime bombing in 1943 at the west end of the Scoles nave.

The building has been Grade II listed since 1970 by Historic England. While an Anglican Church, in recent years it has been used by members of other faiths.

St George's Edgbaston (June 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Christmas decorations

Every November and December, Calthorpe Estates places Christmas reindeer on the lawns of the church, as well as a Christmas tree.

Christmas reindeer at St George's Edgbaston (November 2015). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Christmas reindeer at St George's Edgbaston (December 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Christmas reindeer at St George's Edgbaston (December 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Christmas tree at St George's Edgbaston (December 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

St George Edgbaston