The Parish Church of St Thomas, in High Street, is
an edifice of Bath Stone, in the Gothic style, erected in 1817 at a cost of
about £24,000, and restored by subscription in 1861-62, at a cost of £1,753;
it consists of small chancel, nave, aisles, north and south porches and an
embattled tower at the north-west angle, with a spire rising to the height of
175 feet, and containing an illuminated clock and 10 bells; the east window of
painted glass, erected in 1821, by Mr. Blacker, of London, is illuminated at
night by gas jets placed behind it; in 1875-76 the Church was reseated with
open benches and choir stalls of oak, at a cost of £800, and was again
restored and embellished in 1883; there are 1,200 sittings. The register dates
from the year 1538. The living is a vicarage, tithe rent charge £350, gross
yearly value £1,000, net £510, including 253 acres of glebe and residence,
in the gift of the Earl of Dudley, and held since 1892 by the Rev. Adam Gray
Maitland, of the University of London, and surrogate.
St Edmund's is an ecclesiastical parish, formed Oct. 15, 1884; the Church,
situated at the end of Castle Street, and erected in 1724, is a structure of
brick in the Gothic style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch
and an embattled western tower, with pinnacles, containing a clock; The
ancient Church, which consisted of chancel, nave and aisles, was destroyed
when the castle was dismantled in 1644, after which it lay in ruins, until
rebuilt in 1724; there are 900 sittings, 400 being free. The modern register
dates from the year 1844; the earlier register of this parish, incorporated
with that of St Thomas, dates from 1540.
The living is a vicarage, gross yearly value about £233, with residence, in
the gift of the Vicar of Dudley, and held since 1871 by the Rev. Gilbert
Bradley M.A. of University College, Oxford.
Miss Fellowes's bequest of £200 to St Edmund's parish is invested, and the
interest expended at Christmas by the Vicar and Church Wardens in food,
clothing or fuel for the poor. This parish also shares in the amalgamated
bread charities.
St James' is an ecclesiastical parish, formed Oct 15, 1844: the Church at
Eve Hill, erected in 1840, is an edifice of stone, in the early English
style, and in 1869 was greatly improved by the addition of a chancel,
organ chamber and vestry; it now consists of chancel, with organ chamber
and vestry, clerestoried nave, aisles, and an embattled western tower
containing one bell; the pulpit is of caen stone on clustered shafts of
alabaster, and there is a stained east window; the Church affords 800
sittings, about 500 being free. The register dates from the year 1841. The
living is a vicarage, gross yearly value about £350, with residence, in
the gift of the Vicar of Dudley, and held since 1885 by the Rev. Stewart
Holland M.A. of Trinity College, Dublin. The parish of St James' shares in
the amalgamated bread charities.
The ecclesiastical parish of St John, Kate's Hill, was formed Oct 15,
1844; the Church erected in 1840, at a cost of £3,000 and renovated
in 1873, at a cost of £2,255, is a building of stone in the Early
English style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, west porch and an
embattled western tower containing 10 tubular bells. In the chancel is
a memorial window to the late John Beddard esq. of Dixon's Green, and
there are others to the late Rev. William Henry Vincent Crump, curate
here 1878-82, and to the Wife of the late Mr. Edw. Truelove Terry, to
whose memory the stone pulpit, erected by her husband, is also
dedicated. The reredos of stone includes a cross and figures of the
apostles, and there is a handsome brass lectern. The interior is
surrounded by galleries on three sides, and affords 816 sittings, 480
being free.
The register dates from the year 1840. The living is a vicarage, gross
yearly value £400, net £320, with residence, in the gift of the
Vicar of Dudley, and held since 1843 by the Rev. Edward Henry Lane
Noott M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Miss Fellowes's
bequest of £200 to St John's Parish, is invested and administered in
the same manner as in St Edmund's parish, and this parish shares also
in the amalgamated bread charities.
St Luke's is an ecclesiastical parish, formed Dec 5, 1876. The
Church in the Wellington Road, built in 1878, at a cost of £4,800,
and consecrated in the same year, is an edifice of brick in the
early English style, and consists of chancel, with vestry and organ
chamber, clerestoried nave of five bays, aisles, south porch and a
turret over the chancel arch containing 2 bells. There are 600
sittings.
The register dates from the year 1876. The living is a vicarage,
gross yearly value from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners £200, in
the gift of the Vicar of Dudley, and held since 1890 by the Rev.
William John Down T.A.K.C.L. St Luke's parish shares in the
amalgamated bread charities.
St Augustine's, Holly Hall, is an ecclesiastical parish, formed
Sept 16, 1884, from that of St Thomas. The Church, erected by
subscription in 1884, at a cost of £5,600, is an edifice of red
pressed brick with Horsham Stone dressings, in the early English
style, and consists of chancel with aisle, nave, aisles, side
chapel, organ chamber, north and south porches, vestry and a
belfry containing one bell. There are sittings for 700 persons.
The register dates from the year 1884. The living is a perpetual
curacy, net yearly value £180, in the gift of the Vicar of
Dudley, and held since 1888 by the Rev. Edward Arthur Cosens M.A.
of Merton College, Oxford.
Nearby places
[Created by Peter Abbott. Last updated 6 May 2009 - 12:56 by Rosemary Lockie]