St Thomas in the Moors, Balsall Heath explained

St Thomas in the Moors, Balsall Heath
Coordinates:52.4608°N -1.8953°W
Location:Balsall Heath
Country:England
Denomination:Church of England
Dedication:St Thomas
Consecrated Date:14 August 1883
Architect:Bateman and Corser
Groundbreaking:28 November 1870
Demolished Date:c.1970

St Thomas in the Moors, Balsall Heath is a former Church of England parish church in Balsall Heath, Birmingham.

History

The foundation stone was laid on 28 November 1870 by Mrs Sands Cox of Dosthill Hall[1] in memory of Edward Townsend Cox and Jane his wife. The brass plate which covered the foundation stone cavity was inscribed with

Hunc lapidam Ædis sacræ St. Thomæ dedicate In Memoriam Edward T. Cox et Joannae conjugis Posuit Isabella Sands Cox, Kal, Nov. xxviii A.S., MDCCCLXX. T. Bateman et Corser, Arch; T. Hardwick et Fil Ædif[2]

It was consecrated on 14 August 1883 by the Bishop of Worcester[3]

In 1884 a parish was assigned with land taken from the parish of St Paul's Church, Balsall Heath. Part of the parish was taken in 1900 to form part of the new parish of St Patrick's Church, Bordesley

When the church was closed, the parish was split; part merged with St Mary and St Ambrose, Edgbaston and the rest with St Anne's Church, Moseley.

Organ

The church contained an organ by Nicholson of Worcester. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. When the church was closed the organ was moved to St John the Baptist's Church, Longbridge.

Notes and References

  1. News: . New Church at Balsall Heath . Birmingham Daily Post . Birmingham . 29 November 1870 . 22 March 2015 .
  2. News: . New Church at Balsall Heath . Tamworth Herald . Tamworth . 3 December 1870 . 22 March 2015 .
  3. News: . The Lord Bishop of Worcester . Worcester Journal . Worcester . 18 August 1883 . 22 March 2015 .