Birmingham

My trip to Birmingham was one of my multi-site trips and included Worcester, Hereford and Shrewsbury. I’d only been to Birmingham (UK’s second city) once before for a business meeting. It was about 4 hours of travelling for a 60-75 minute meeting.

Birmingham became a city in 1899 but didn’t get an Anglican cathedral until 1905. Saint Chad’s became Birmingham’s Catholic cathedral in 1852. The city itself is about 100 miles north of London in the West Midlands. While there’s evidence of human habitation in the area from 8,000 BC, it didn’t really start developing into an urban and commercial centre until 1166. In the earlier 16th century, Birmingham became an important centre of iron manufacturing.

Birmingham has a long history of free-thinking and social mobility and in the 18th century, this led to what was called the Midlands Enlightenment where its leading citizens were influential participants among Europe's intellectual elite.

During the Industrial Revolution, Birmingham experienced population explosive growth and grew to over half a million people. It was heavily bombed during the second world war but recovered and became a major centre for the production of cars. As that industry declined, so did the fortunes of the city. Recently, there has been significant redevelopment in the city.

I was very disappointed that the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery was closed until 2022. I will need to visit Birmingham again.

The Metropolitan Cathedral Church and Basilica of Saint Chad was designed by Pugin in the Gothic revival style, work was started in 1839 and consecrated in 1841 and became a cathedral in 1852. It is the first catholic cathedral built in England since Henry VIII’s English Reformation. In 1941, it was declared a minor basilica by Pope Prius XII and is one only of four minor basilicas in England.

On my visit, the website said that the cathedral was open between 11 to (approx) 12:15. I get there on time and go to enter. A huge guy who could double for the Demi-God Hercules asked me why I was at the cathedral. When I told him to have a look around, he was a little perplexed as it was only open for confession and daily mass. I was allowed into the cathedral but to sit, not walk around.

I will be visiting again.

Here are some of the photos I took.

The Cathedral Church of St Philip started its life in 1715 as a parish church and became a cathedral in 1905. It was built in the baroque style by Thomas Archer. It was extended over 4 years started in 1884 including the refacing of the exterior. 

Edward Burne-Jones was born near and was baptised at St Philips he created and donated several beautiful stained glass windows to the church.

Here are some of the photos I took.