Bishop Ryder Church, Birmingham Explained
52.485°N -1.8892°W
Bishop Ryder Memorial Church, Birmingham, was a parish church in the Church of England in Birmingham from 1838 to 1960.
History
Built on Gem Street in Gosta Green in Birmingham, it was a red brick and stone church designed by Thomas Rickman and Richard Charles Hussey in the Gothic style. It was built to commemorate Henry Ryder, Bishop of Lichfield[1] and was consecrated in 1838. A parish was created out of St Martin in the Bull Ring in 1841.
The chancel was rebuilt in 1894 by J. A. Chatwin funded by J.C. Holder in memory of his father, Henry Holder.[2] In 1925 the parish of St Mary's Church, Whittall Street, Birmingham was united with Bishop Ryder, and in 1939 part of the parish and the benefice of St Bartholomew’s Church, Birmingham, were united.
The church was demolished in 1960. Gem Street also no longer exists, but the church was located in the middle of the modern Aston University campus.
Vicars
- M.A. Collinson 1838 – 1847
- Sampson Jervois 1847 – 1857
- John H. Burges 1857 – 1874
- Joseph Phelps Gardiner 1875[3] – 1900
- George Edwin Badger 1900 – 1933[4] (afterwards vicar of Cofton Hackett)
- C.H. Williams 1933[5] – 1940 (formerly chaplain of the Watts Naval School, Elmham, Norfolk, afterwards vicar of Christ Church, Highbury, London)
- Jack Richard Hassett 1940 – 1947
- Christopher Martindale Waddleton 1947 – 1949 (formerly curate at St Philip and St Jacob’s Church, Bristol)
- Edward A. Burton 1949 – 1951[6] (afterwards vicar of St Paul’s Church, Tipton)
- William George Griffin 1951 – 1956[7] (formerly vicar of St Paul’s Church, Lozells, afterwards vicar of All Saints' Church, Burton upon Trent)
Bells
For the consecration in 1838, a single bell by William Taylor of Oxford was installed. In 1869 Blews and Son provided a ring of eight bells at a cost of £600.[8] These were later recast by Taylors of Loughborough. When the church was closed the bells were transferred to St Peter's Church, Harborne.
Organ
The first organ in the church cost £270 and was built by Theodore Charles Bates of London and opened on 7 December 1841.[9]
This was replaced in 1882 when a new organ by J.C. Banfield was opened on 25 November[10] at a cost of £350. It was renovated in 1939 by Walter James Bird. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.[11]
Notes and References
- Osbornes' Guide to the Grand Junction, Or Birmingham, Liverpool, and Manchester Railway:Edward Cornelius Osborne. 1840
- Birmingham Daily Post – Monday 3 July 1893
- News: . Local and District News . Worcester Journal . England . 20 February 1875 . 19 January 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
- News: . Canon Badger. Birmingham Daily Gazette . England . 8 May 1933 . 19 January 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
- News: . Noted Athlete as New Vicar . Birmingham Daily Gazette . England . 27 June 1933 . 19 January 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
- News: . A vicar moves on . Birmingham Daily Gazette . England . 10 February 1951 . 19 January 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
- News: . New vicar of All Saints' Installed . Burton Observer and Chronicle . England . 2 August 1956 . 19 January 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
- Birmingham Journal – Saturday 23 January 1869
- Birmingham Gazette – Monday 6 December 1841
- News: . Opening of the Organ at Bishop Ryder's Church, Birmingham . Birmingham Daily Gazette . England . 24 November 1882 . 11 January 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
- Web site: The National Pipe Organ Register. npor.org.uk. 30 July 2016.
