St Martin in the Bull Ring

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St Martin in the Bull Ring
St Martin in the Bull Ring
St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, next to the modern Selfridges shop
St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, next to the modern Selfridges shop
External pulpit
External pulpit

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 Bullring shopping centre and the markets. The church is a Grade II* listed building. The current Rector is Stewart Jones.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] The original church

The present Victorian church, built on the site of a 13th century church which was documented in 1263. The church was enlarged in medieval times and the resulting structure consisted of a lofty nave and chancel, north and south aisles and a northwest tower with spire. In 1690, the church-wardens "dressed the church in brick." All was cased in brick with the exception of the spire.[1]

John Cheshire rebuilt 40 feet of the spire in 1781 and was strengthened by an iron spindle running up its centre at a length of 105 feet. It was secured to the sidewalls at every ten feet by braces.[1] In 1801, several metres from the top of the spire and were replaced after they were found to have decayed. The tops of the four pinnacles surrounding the main spire were also rebuilt.[1] By 1808, the spire had been struck by lightning three times.[1]

In 1853, the brick casing was removed from the tower by Philip Charles Hardwick, who added the open-air pulpit. The church also consisted of an organ, the reedwork of which had been done by Snetzler. However, the pipes were found to be ineffective due to their proximity to the church roof and walls.[1]

[edit] Current church

In 1873, the church was demolished and rebuilt by architect J.A. Chatwin in 1873, preserving an earlier tower and spire. During the demolition, medieval wall paintings and decorations were discovered in the chancel, including the charity of St Martin dividing his cloak with a beggar, and two painted beams were discovered behind the plaster ceiling. The exterior is built of rockfaced grimshill stone. The interior is of sandstone and an open timber roof.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] 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.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e R. Jabet; J.P.Lucas (1808). A concise history of Birmingham. R. Jabet. 
  2. ^ Douglas Hickman (1970). Birmingham. Studio Vista Limited, 37-39. 
  3. ^ St. Martin's in the Bull Ring, Church Guide, 1991, ISBN 0-85101-282-5
  4. ^ St. Martin's in the Bull Ring - a story of seven centuries, Rev Philip Crowe, 1975

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 52°28′37″N 1°53′36″W / 52.4770, -1.8932

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Members of the Greater Churches Group