Churches in Birmingham established before 1901
(Where no registers are shown to be at Birmingham Archdiocesan Archives it may be assumed that they are still at the church concerned.)
On March 23, 1687, the foundation stone of a Catholic chapel at Birmingham was laid by Fr. Leo Randolph, O.S.F., 'in ye presence of many Protestants as well as Catholics.' King James II. presented twenty-five tons of timber from Needwood Forest for use in the new building, which was opened and consecrated September 4, 1688, by Bishop Giffard. His lordship ordered the anniversary of the opening to be kept on the first Sunday of September, On November 2, 1688, two days before the landing of the Prince of Orange, a protestant mob, acting under orders from Lord Delamere, razed the chapel to the ground. The building was dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen. It was 95 ft. long by 33 ft., and the high altar was adorned 'by four large pillars carved with Corinthian capitals.' The site of this chapel is, or was, called 'Mass -house Lane.' After the destruction of the chapel, Fr. Randolph retired to Edgbaston, near the town, where he opened a small chapel and started a school. The school was greatly helped by Lady Curson of Waterperry, who in 1719 bequeathed to the priest in charge some money for 'four weekly Masses.' The school and chapel always remained separate establishments, and in 1735 it was provided by the Provincial of the Franciscans in England that the incumbent of the chapel should pay the master £16 per annum for his board &e. A new house was rented for the school in 1750. The chief benefactors to the establishment after this were Mrs. Mary Weld, who left £350 to the school in 1782, and Sir James Brockholes, of Lancashire, who in 1787 presented it with £400. In 1789 the school was removed to Baddesley [Clinton].
KELLY 1907