Walsall St Paul
"St Paul's Chapel is a handsome Grecian structure, built in 1826, by the Governors of the Grammar School, to which it is annexed, standing in a pleasant situation, near Bridge Street. The living is a curacy, which will always be enjoyed by the master of the Grammar School."
[From History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire, William
White, Sheffield, 1851]
Church History
St Paul's ecclesiastical parish was formed in May, 1875. The original church, in St Paul's Close, was built in 1826 to the design of Francis Godwin, in the Greek Classical style. It was a chapel annexed to the Grammar School until it was sold to the townspeople in 1873. It was restored in 1874 and rebuilt, of stone in the Decorated style, in 1892, to the design of JL Pearson, ARA, and consists of a chancel with south aisle, clerestoried nave, aisles, transepts, north porch, and the base of a western tower.
In the south aisle is a stained glass window presented by Job Wheway in memory of his daughter. Two stained glass windows in the chapel were presented by HJ Thurstans in memory of his father, and five windows in the chancel were presented by Mrs Hill in memory of her husband, TA Hill.
St Paul's is now both a church and multi-purpose community facility and is now known as 'The Crossing at St Paul's'.
Church Records
Church of England Registers
The register of St Paul commences in 1874. The original registers for the period 1874-1951 (Bapts) & 1875-1992 (Mar) are deposited at Staffordshire Record Office.
A microfilm copy of the register is held by Walsall Local History Centre.
Nonconformist Church Registers
Records of Nonconformist churches in Walsall can be found on the Walsall page.
[Last updated: 7th February 2001, Mike Harbach. © 2001]
