Christianity

A person who follows the religion of Christianity is called a Christian. This means belonging to Christ. According to the 2001 Census there are 557, 783 Christians living in Birmingham and 28, 311 Christians living in the Sparkbrook area. Approximately 4, 026 Christians live in Balsall Heath.

Christianity is based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians believe that Jesus was the Son of God. They believe that Jesus was sent to teach the word of God and show mankind how to live as God intended. Christians believe in one God whom they call Father. They believe that God created the world and mankind in his image and in order to exist as God intended, Christians must love and respect others.

Christianity is centred on the belief that Jesus sacrificed his life for the future of mankind. They believe that Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. On the third day after his crucifixion he rose from the dead. This is known as the resurrection. Christians believe that once they die on earth they will live an eternal life in heaven.

Christians believe that God exists as the Holy trinity, this means that God exists as the father, the son who was Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that is present in those who believe in him.

Christians follow Jesus’ teachings in the Bible. The Bible is divided into two parts. The Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament is based on the world before Jesus was sent to Earth by God. The New Testament is a record of Jesus’ life and the Gospel or teachings which were revealed by Jesus to his disciples.

Christians worship God through prayer in their own homes or in churches. Prayers can be personal thoughts or official prayers which are taught through the church, school or within the family. Prayer can be offered to God or to particular Saints. These are people who sacrificed their lives in respect of their faith. Church worship is led by spiritual leaders called priests or ministers. These are Christians who have given up their lives to dedicate themselves to spreading the word of God.

There are many Christian Holy days but the most important days are Christmas and Easter. Christmas celebrates the time when Jesus was born to his mother the Virgin Mary. During this time Christians all over the world prepare their homes with decorations and lights to signify the coming of Jesus Christ. Christmas trees are put up in churches and homes as a sign of the new life that entered the world. People sing carols and swap cards and gifts to celebrate and remember the birth of Jesus Christ. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Churches and homes are filled with flowers and special hymns and songs are sung. Children and adults swap cards and Easter Eggs as a symbol of new life.

Christianity has many different traditions including Baptist; Roman Catholic; Anglican; Church of England and Methodist. All of these religions have their own methods of worship within Christianity but the basic belief remains the same.

Church of England

St Mary & St Ambrose Church stands on the corner of Raglan Road and Pershore Road in Edgbaston.

The first church was built in 1885 when the vicar of St Bartholomew’s Church in Edgbaston, often referred to as Edgbaston Old Church, decided to start a mission to serve the new houses which had been built around Calthorpe Park. Lord Calthorpe was most generous in giving this prime site for construction.

A wooden church hall was purchased second hand from St Agnes Church in Moseley and the first services were held on 29th May 1885. Gradually the mission grew and in 1889 it was given the name of the St Ambrose mission.

By 1887 a building contract was put out to build a permanent church alongside the mission hall. The architect was J A Chatwin, already well-known for his work at the Houses of Parliament and St Martins’ in the Bullring. The building of the church and the interior was paid for by sponsors, namely three sisters from the Stokes family who were residents of the Edgbaston area, Between them the Stokes sisters contributed £12000 to the building of the church. The last surviving sister, Mary Stokes died before the completion and in honour of her generosity the church was given the name of St Mary & St Ambrose.

The church is Victorian Gothic and is built of red brick and terracotta. It is Grade II* listed and is a striking sight with its tall spire on the corner of Raglan and Pershore Roads.

Inside, the nave is 90 feet long and the chancel 36 feet. The tower and spire are 150 feet in height and at its consecration the church had seating for 700 people. The East window is on the theme of the Te Deum (a hymn of praise), with Christ in majesty in the centre surrounded by Bishops and people (even St George is there), all praising God on high. Two murals in the transepts were painted in 1907 by Kate Bunce, a pupil of Edward Burne-Jones, depicting scenes from the life of Christ.

Baptists

Baptists have lived and worshipped in Balsall Heath and the surrounding areas since 1872. The first place of worship was on Balsall Heath Road above a shop. In 1899 Edward Road Baptist Church was built on the corner of Edward Road and Harbury Road. At the time the houses had not yet been built and open fields surrounded the area. In fact, there were often complaints that noise from the local geese was disrupting the services.

Edward Road Baptist Church is a Grade II* listed building. The building you can see today has hardly changed from the day that it was built in 1899. There was once a spire, but this was removed in the 1970s due to dry rot.

Inside, the church still maintains some of its original features. The organ, which arrived in the 1920s, is still in good working order and a number of the wooden pews still remain. The building also has a marble baptistery where people are baptised into the faith of Baptism. The baptistery is like a large rectangular bath and measures approximately 4 metres by 1.3 metres. When a person is baptised they are plunged completely and briefly into the water to signify that their old life has gone, and a new life is just beginning.

Some changes have been made inside the building since it was first built. The aisles have been changed into offices for the Pastor, who is the leader of the church, and other members of the community to use.

Roman Catholics

People who follow the Roman Catholic tradition of Christianity are called Catholics. The tradition of the Roman Catholic Church is based on the scriptures of Jesus Christ as documented by the apostles in the Bible. Catholics believe in the Virgin Mary as the mother of Jesus Christ and God as the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the maker of Heaven and Earth.

Roman Catholics have lived in the Balsall Heath area since the 1800s. The parish was originally served from the Chapel of Saint John the Evangelist at Saint Anne’s Church in Bradford Street, Digbeth from 1859 to 1903.

The church of St. John and St. Martin on George Street in Balsall Heath was first built in 1896. The naves, which can be seen today, were added in the 1900s. After the Second World War, between 1945 and 1960, the congregation grew to approximately 4800 parishioners. In order to accommodate the growth in parishioners the new Parish of Saint Martin de Porres was built in 1967.

During the 1970s the Irish Catholic population began to move away from the centre of the city and the numbers of people attending the churches declined. St. Martins de Porres rejoined with St. Johns in 1977 and the church was renamed St. John and St. Martins.

The Parish cares for the nurturing, formation and spiritual growth of its parishioners and maintains close links with the community through the church and through the two schools within the Parish, St. John and Monica’s and St. Martins.