St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham: 1838-1841

St. Chad�s Cathedral, Birmingham: 1838-1841

Then and Now

Construction of this building began in 1838. It came about through the abilities of four men, The Earl of Shrewsbury, John Hardman, George Myers and Pugin.
It was built of red brick with stone dressing, on the side of a hill that sloped down to a canal in a backwater maze of streets and houses known as the gun makers part of Birmingham.
In the sixties the area was radically altered, Pugin�s Bishop's house that had been built opposite the Cathedral was knocked down and a ring road was built.
This circles half of the building so it no longer is seen as Pugin had intended, towering above the other buildings.

The Interior

The exterior of the building belies it's interior. For a Cathedral it is small and narrow but it soars up to the roof, painted blue and gold with steeply curved roof trusses. The sanctuary pillars are banded with gold, the stalls and the pulpit are 15th centuary Flemish.
The altar is made of Bath limestone with a wonderful canopy of oak and pine painted in scarlet and gold, on the altar are six huge candlesticks designed by Pugin. The windows surrounding the altar were designed by Pugin and executed by Hardman.
There is a fair amount of Pugin designed furniture. Once again we find the rood screen removed due to the vagaries of Vatican 2.

Pugin had a reliquary made of wood and gilt, to stand on top of the reredos behind the altar, to house the relics of St. Chad. Sadly not long before I visited the Cathedral it had suffered from vandals, who had removed the reliquary and damaged it to no purpose.
In the large crypt beneath the Cathedral there are a series of chantry�s, Pugin�s second wife Louisa is buried in the Hardman chantry.

Bishop Thomas Walsh the founder of the Cathedral is buried here with a magnificent tomb carved in Bath stone.
Despite being on a ring road, the canal no longer visible, the Bishop's house demolished, this Cathedral is a treat and must be visited it is so obviously loved and cared for with it�s dreamy atmosphere and beautiful interior.

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Then and Now
Construction of this building began in 1838. It came about through the abilities of four men, The Earl of Shrewsbury, John Hardman, George Myers and Pugin. It was built of red brick with stone dressing, on the side of a hill that sloped down to a canal in a backwater maze of streets and houses known as the gun makers part of Birmingham.		In the sixties the area was radically altered, Pugin�s Bishop's house that had been built opposite the Cathedral was knocked down and a ring road was built. This circles half of the building so it no longer is seen as Pugin had intended, towering above the other buildings.