St. Peter's Church, Harborne

History and a Tour of St Peter's Church

There has been a church on this site, we believe, since Saxon times and St Chad is thought to have preached here. The base of a preaching cross was found in the middle 1980’s during work at the back of the church and is now in the Church Hall garden.

The present building is Victorian, the sanctuary was rebuilt during l974/5 after a fire, and the tower is the oldest part and a well known landmark for miles around. It dates from the 14^th century.

You will notice as you stand in the forecourt, the site of the old Victorian Vicarage, that the west door, ringing chamber and clock, are not in line. It is thought that the tower was built over a period of 200 years and when the Black Death of 1348 killed many of the craftsmen of Harborne, the tower was finished by unskilled workmen.

There are leaflets in the church giving a comprehensive guide round the church, pointing out many historical features and items given in memory.

A plan of the church:

Here are some pictures in and around St Peter's Church:

	The altar in Ordinary Time

The cockerel weathervane

The porch Welcome Table

The Font is in the traditional place at the church entrance

The North Aisle The remains of the ironwork taken from the grave of the blacksmith A F Hill (1883) who made the gates of the Houses of Parliament. Tools of his trade can be seen in the ironwork.

The Lady Chapel is used every morning for Mattins, Tues and Wed mornings for Holy Communion and on Saints Days. It is also used by parents with noisy children during services as it is soundproof.

The Pulpit given in memory of J Chatwin and J Stokes 1885. There are seven sculptured marble and alabaster figures: St Peter, St Paul, Jesus, St Matthew, St Luke & St John.

The Sanctury One of the six angels above the Sanctuary	The Sanctuary Lamp given in memory of EJ Adams in 1952		The Chancel and Sanctuary were refurbished in 1995 when the altar was moved back to the East End and a new communion rail was installed in memory of Stephen and Dorothy Lloyd (daughter of Mrs Neville Chamberlain who is buried in the churchyard).
	The East Window, the centre panel of which is in memory of David Cox, another Harborne artist, buried in the churchyard.	Victorian tiling in the Sanctuary	The Lectern, dated 1874,  was given in memory of Charles Hart.

South Organ Area The picture of St Peter, painted in 1972 by Dawn Cookson, a pupil of Annigoni.

Stained glass window in memory of William Westley Manning 1866

The organ, installed by Messrs Hawkins in 1975 and built to the specification of George Miles who was organist at St Peter's for many years. (See more details and specification of organ on Choir Page).

South Transept One of four Charity Boards dating from 1715

This window is in memory of Anne Roberts, widow of the Revd R J Roberts, Vicar 1883.

The South Aisle The Counsell Window in memory of Simon Counsell who was killed in a road accident at the age of 6. His father was Vicar at St Peter's.

In the Churchyard The War Memorial

The churchyard, which is 7½ acres, is 'closed'. There is an area for the burial of ashes.

Where the hearse used to unload the coffin.

The Three Lychgates Number one by Harborne Hall	Number Two, showing St Peter's Primary school in the background and the other way, the straight path to the church	Number Three by St Peter's Road

The Church Hall

The Vicarage and Office

The Glebe, used for car parking, outdoor activities for children's groups and for the annual bonfire night.

The Garden outside the Hall

Snow in February 07

and the Ladies who tend it.