See separate entries for:

Bishop Ryder, Christ Church, St Bartholomew, St George, St Martin, St Mary, St Paul, St Peter, St Philip, St Thomas,.

Prior to the year 1715, Birmingham comprised only one parish, and for all civil purposes it is still so considered: at that time, a small portion of the original parish of St. Martin, consisting of a district in the centre of the town, was formed into the parish of St. Philip; and, in 1829, two other districts were formed into the parishes of St. George and St. Thomas: they are all within the archdeaconry of Coventry, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry. The living of St. Martin's is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £19. 3. 6½., and in the patronage of the Executors of the late William Hawkes, Esq. The church is an ancient structure, in the decorated style of English architecture, with a square tower, and a lofty and well-proportioned spire, with the exception of which, the building, originally of stone, has been cased with brick: within an several effigies, the details of some of which are finely executed. The living of St. Philip's is a rectory not in charge, to which is annexed the prebend of Sawley, including the dignities of canon residentiary and treasurer in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield, with the patronage of the perpetual curacy of Sawley, in the county of Derby: it is in the patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. The church, erected in 17251 is a handsome structure, in the Grecian style of architecture, combining the Corinthian and the Doric orders, with a tower supporting a dome and a cupola: the churchyard is a spacious area, around which are many elegant buildings of modern erection. The living of St. George's is a rectory not in charge, in the patronage of the Executors of the late William Hawkes, Esq. The church, containing one thousand three hundred and seventy eight free sittings, was erected in 18,22, by subscription among the inhabitants, aided by a grant from the parliamentary commissioners, at an expense of £12,491. 6d.: it is a fine specimen of the early character of the decorated style of English architecture, with a lofty square embattled tower, with pierced parapet and crocketed pinnacles. The living of St. Thomas' is a rectory not in charge, to which the Executors of the late William Hawkes, Esq. presented in 1829, in which year the church, containing one thousand four hundred and twenty-three free sittings, was completed, at an expense of £ 14,712. 10., which was wholly defrayed by a grant from the parliamentary commissioners : it is a chaste and elegant structure, in the Grecian style of architecture, with a handsome steeple, connected in the lower part with the sides of the church, by quadrants of the Ionic order. St. Mary's chapel, in the parish of St. Martin, erected by subscription in 1774, on a site given by Miss Weaman, is an octagonal brick building, with a small stone steeple: the living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of trustees appointed under the will of the late Miss Weaman. St. Paul's chapel, in the same parish, built by subscription in 1779, on a site given by Miss Colmore, is a handsome edifice in the Grecian style: the roof, which over the galleries is plainly groined, is supported on handsome pillars of the Ionic order; the altar-piece is ornamented with a painting in stained glass of the Conversion of St. Paul; the steeple, which is much admired for the lightness and elegance of its design, was added in 1820 : the living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of Mr. Latimer. Christ Church, in the parish of St. Philip, erected in 1813, by subscription, for the especial accommodation of the poor, is a neat plain building, with a handsome portico of the Tuscan order, and a spire: the living is a perpetual curacy, to which is annexed the prebend of Tachbrook in the Cathedral Church of Lichfield; it is in the patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry. St. Bartholomew's, a chapel of case to the rectory of St. Martin's, is a plain brick building, with a cupola; the interior is a good specimen of the Tuscan order, and the altar-piece is richly carved. St Peter's, a chapel of ease to the rectory of St. Philip's containing one thousand four hundred and thirty-one free sittings, was built in 1827, at an expense of £13,365. 16. 6., part of which was defrayed by the Parliamentary commissioners, and was almost destroyed by fire, in January 1831. There are places of worship for Baptists, the Society of Friends, Independents, Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists, Swedenborgians, and Unitarians; besides a Scotch church, two Roman Catholic chapels, and a synagogue. Among these, Zion chapel, Carr’s Lane meeting-house, the Scotch church, and Ebenezer chapel, may be distinguished as spacious and handsome structures. [Lewis 1831]