St John the Baptist's Church, Longbridge

St John the Baptist’s Church, Longbridge
St John the Baptist’s Church, Longbridge
52°23′41.59″N1°58′30.96″W / 52.3948861°N 1.9752667°W / 52.3948861; -1.9752667
Location	Longbridge
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Website	Longbridge Parish Church
History
Dedication	St John the Baptist
Consecrated	1957
Architecture
Architect	G H While
Groundbreaking	1956
Completed	1957
Administration
Diocese	Anglican Diocese of Birmingham
Archdeaconry	Birmingham
Deanery	Kings Norton
Parish	Longbridge

St John the Baptist's Church, Longbridge is a parish church in the Church of England in Birmingham. ^[1]

History

The church was designed by G H While ^[2] of Bromilow, While and Smeaton. The church was consecrated in 1957 and a parish was formed from St Nicolas' Church, Kings Norton at the same time. It was built to serve the expanding car-making area around the Longbridge plant.

The church is noted for five oak statues on the mullions of the west window designed by G H While and carved by the Robert Pancheri of Bromsgrove. The central figure is of St John the Baptist holding a cross, with a lamb lying on the Bible. Around him are depictions of Elijah with a raven, Isaiah with a branch, Ezekiel with a wheel and Jeremiah with a scroll. ^[3]

The church was used by the architect as a model for St Boniface's Church, Quinton which was built 2 years later.

Organ

A two manual organ from St Thomas in the Moors, Balsall Heath was installed in 1958 by Nicholson and Co of Worcester. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register. ^[4]

References

1. The Buildings of England. Warwickshire. Nikolaus Pevsner. Penguin Books.
2. "St John the Baptist, Longbridge". A Church Near You. The Church of England. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
3. Public Sculpture of Birmingham. George T. Noszlopy. Liverpool University Press. 1998. ISBN   9780853236924
4. "NPOR [D02875]". National Pipe Organ Register . British Institute of Organ Studies . Retrieved 25 February 2015.