St Martin in the Bull Ring
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The church of St Martin in the Bull Ring (grid reference SP073866) in Birmingham, England is the original parish church of Birmingham. It stands between the Birmingham Bull Ring shopping centre and the markets.
The present Victorian church, built on the site of a 13th century church which was documented in 1263, was rebuilt by architect J.A. Chatwin in 1873, preserving an earlier tower and spire. There is an external pulpit on the side of the church for open-air sermons.
The South Transept has a Burne-Jones window, made by William Morris in 1875. This window was taken down for safe keeping the day before a World War II bomb dropped beside the church (10th April 1941), destroying all remaining windows[1]. The West window is a 1954 copy of the Henry Hardman 1875 window destroyed by the Blitz.
The first broadcast of church bells ringing was of St Martin's [2]. Since 1991 the church has sixteen bells hung for ringing – a most unusual number, five, six, eight, ten or at the most twelve would be typical.
As part of the Bull Ring development in 2003, the church was cleaned and repaired.
St Martin in the Bullring is also open from 10-5 every day for visitors to view the interior.
The church is a Grade II* listed building.
[edit] References
- ^ St. Martin's in the Bull Ring, Church Guide, 1991, ISBN 0-85101-282-5
- ^ St. Martin's in the Bull Ring - a story of seven centuries, Rev Philip Crowe, 1975
[edit] External links
- Church of St Martin in the Bull Ring
- History of the church from Virtual Brum
- BBC Where I Live - article and panoramic views of interior
- Birmingham City Council page on the church
- Images of England - photograph and details from listed building text
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