View source for St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox church
| name = Birmingham Cathedral
| fullname = Cathedral Church of Saint Philip, Birmingham
| image = St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham in spring.jpg
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| caption = The cathedral viewed from the south in March 2014
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| coordinates = {{coord|52.481111|-1.898889|region:GB|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| osgraw = <!-- TEXT -->
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| location = [[Birmingham]]
| country = England
| denomination = [[Church of England]]
| tradition = [[Anglo-Catholicism]]
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| website = [http://www.birminghamcathedral.com/ birminghamcathedral.com]
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| architect = Thomas Archer
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| style = Baroque
| years built = 1710-1725
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| diocese = [[Anglican Diocese of Birmingham|Birmingham]]
| diocese start = 1905
| province = [[Province of Canterbury|Canterbury]]
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| bishop = [[Michael Volland]]
| dean = [[Matt Thompson (priest)|Matt Thompson]]
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| canonmissioner = Andy Delmege
| precentor = Nathan Mulcock
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The '''Cathedral Church of Saint Philip''', also called the '''Birmingham Cathedral''', is a [[Church of England]] [[cathedral]] and the seat of the [[Bishop of Birmingham]]. Built as a parish church in the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style by [[Thomas Archer]], it was consecrated in 1715. Located on [[Colmore Row]] in central Birmingham, St Philip's became the cathedral of the newly formed [[Anglican Diocese of Birmingham|Diocese of Birmingham]] in 1905. The cathedral is a Grade I [[listed building]].

==History==
===Founding===
St Philip's Church was planned when the nearby medieval church of [[St Martin in the Bull Ring]] became insufficient to house its congregation because of the growing population of Birmingham. The land, previously named the ''Barley Close'', was donated by Robert Philips in 1710. It is one of the highest points in the district and is said to be at the same level as the cross on [[St Paul's Cathedral]] in [[London]].<ref name=Pratt>{{cite book| title=The Cathedral Churches of England - Their Architecture, History and Antiquities - with Bibliography, Itinerary and Glossary |first=Helen Marshall |last=Pratt |pages=89 |year=2007 |publisher=READ BOOKS |isbn=978-1-4067-5720-0}}</ref> Following an [[Act of Parliament]], construction commenced in 1711, to the design of [[Thomas Archer]],<ref name=Jabet>{{cite book|title=A concise history of Birmingham|author=Jabet, R.|author2=Lucas, J. P.|year=1808|publisher=R. Jabet}}</ref> and was ready for consecration in 1715, when it was dedicated to the [[Apostle Philip]] as a tribute to the benefactor Robert Philips. It appears to have been Archer's first church, apart from a rebuilt chancel at [[Chicheley]] attributed to him. Construction was estimated to cost £20,000, but the final figure was only £5,012.<ref name=Jabet /> (equivalent to £{{Formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|5012|1715|r=-4}}}} in {{Inflation-year|UK}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK}} This was because many of the materials were donated and transported to the site at no cost. St Philip's served as a Parish church from 1715 to 1905.

The church contained [[St. Philip's Parish Library]], which was bequeathed to the church by William Higgs. In 1792, a library room was constructed next to the parsonage house by [[Spencer Madan (translator)|Spencer Madan]] and was named the Parochial Library.

===Cathedral===
[[File:Charles Gore - Statue - St. Philip's - Birmingham - 2005-10-14.jpg|upright|thumb|Statue of [[Charles Gore]], the [[Bishop of Birmingham|1st Bishop of Birmingham]], by [[Thomas Stirling Lee]]]]
With the growth of [[Industrial Revolution|industrial]] towns in the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a consequent growth in the number of parishes, and a need for new administrative centres. Birmingham became a city in 1889. While the cities of [[Liverpool]] and [[Truro]] constructed new cathedrals, in a number of other cities existing churches and ancient abbeys were raised to the administrative status of cathedrals. Through the actions of the statesman [[Joseph Chamberlain]] and the [[Bishop of Worcester]], [[Charles Gore]], St Philip's became the Cathedral of Birmingham in 1905, with Charles Gore as its first bishop.<ref name=TTB>{{cite book| first1=Tim| last1=Tatton-Brown| first2=John| last2=Crook| title=The English Cathedral| publisher=New Holland| year=2002| isbn=978-1-8433-0120-2| page=136}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041206173809/http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/present/misc.html Cathedral Miscellany]</ref>

===World War II===
During [[World War II]], the cathedral was bombed and gutted on the 7 November 1940. Its most significant treasures, several windows by [[Edward Burne-Jones]], had been removed in the early stages of the war by [[Birmingham Civic Society]], and were replaced, unharmed, when the building was restored in 1948.<ref name=TTB/>

==Architecture==
[[File:St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham, interior 2024.jpg|left|thumb|The Altar]]
[[File:St. Philips Cathedral clock tower (4546238272).jpg|upright|thumb|The dome of the western tower]]
[[File:St. Philips, Birmingham.jpg|right|thumb|An exterior view of the cathedral in [[Birmingham]]]]
[[File:St Philips Cathedral, Birmingham - choir.jpg|thumb|The chancel, which features stained glass by [[Edward Burne-Jones]]]]
St Philip's was designed by [[Thomas Archer]] and constructed between 1711 and 1715. The tower was complete by 1725, and the urns on the parapet were added in 1756. Archer had visited [[Rome]] and his design, in the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style, is influenced by the churches of [[Borromini]], being rather more Italianate than churches by [[Christopher Wren]].<ref name=TTB/> The rectangular [[hall church]] interior has aisles separated from the nave by fluted pillars of classical form with [[Tuscan order|Tuscan]] capitals supporting an arcade surmounted by a heavily projecting [[cornice]]. Wooden galleries are stretched between the pillars in a manner typical of English Baroque churches.

Outside the cathedral, tall windows are interspaced by pilasters in low relief, supporting a balustrade at roof level with an urn rising above each pilaster. The western end is marked by a single tower which rises in stages and is surmounted by a lead-covered dome and a delicate lantern. The building is of [[brick]] and is faced with [[Rock (geology)|stone]] quarried on Archer's estate at [[Umberslade Hall|Umberslade]].

The original shallow eastern apse was extended in 1884&ndash;88 by [[J. A. Chatwin]] into a much larger chancel,<ref name=TTB/> articulated by strongly projecting [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] columns. This bold design is made richer by the marbled surfaces of the columns and pilasters, the gilding of capitals and cornice and the ornately coffered ceiling. Chatwin also refaced the exterior of the building because the stone from the original quarry was very soft.<ref name= TTB/> The tower was refaced in 1958–59.

[[Edward Burne-Jones]], who was born in nearby Bennett's Hill and baptised in the church, added to the enhancement of St Philips by the donation of several windows, of which three are at the eastern end. The west window, also by Burne-Jones, was dedicated in memory of [[Henry Bowlby]] in 1897.<ref name=Jabet />

Six of the monuments have heritage listings, including one commemorating two men who died during the construction of [[Birmingham Town Hall]] and a memorial to the victims of 1974's [[Birmingham pub bombings]]. [[Thomas Stirling Lee]]'s statue of Charles Gore, vested in convocation robes with his right hand raised in blessing, is located at the West entrance. 

==Grounds==
[[File:Memorial, St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham - DSC08824.JPG|upright|thumb|The Burnaby obelisk]]
Outside the Cathedral, a large [[Portland stone]] obelisk commemorates [[Frederick Gustavus Burnaby]]. Besides Burnaby's bust, in relief, it carries only the word "Burnaby", and the dated place names "Khiva 1875" and "Abu Klea 1885". These refer to the [[Khanate of Khiva]] and [[Battle of Abu Klea]], respectively; he was killed at the latter.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Burnaby, Frederick Gustavus |volume=4}}</ref> The obelisk was unveiled by [[Lord Charles Beresford]] on 13 November 1885.<ref name="Ward">Roger Ward, ''Monumental Soldier'', in {{cite book|last=Hall|first=Brian|title=Aspects of Birmingham|year=2001|publisher=Wharncliffe Books|isbn=978-1-8716-4767-9}}</ref> An earlier red [[marble]] was erected in 1857 to commemorate the life and death of [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] Thomas Unett, who died leading his men during the [[Siege of Sevastopol (1854–55)|Siege of Sevastopol]].<ref name="Gardens Trust">{{cite book| last=Nicholson| first=Jean| title=The Obelisks of Warwickshire| page=34| publisher=Brewin Books| year=2013| isbn=978-1-8585-8515-4}}</ref> Upon completion of the Burnaby building, it was decided to prohibit monuments from being added to the interior.<ref name=Jabet />

The grounds are known colloquially as "Pigeon Park".<ref>{{cite news| last=Leach| first=Harry| newspaper=[[Birmingham Post]]| url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/pigeon-park-tragedy-police-release-25350005| title=Pigeon Park tragedy - police release statement after post-mortem examination| date=26 October 2022| access-date=29 February 2024}}</ref>

==Dean and chapter==

*[[Dean of Birmingham|Dean]] – [[Matt Thompson (priest)|Matt Thompson]] (since 30 September 2017 installation)
*Canon [[Precentor]] – Nathan Mulcock (since 2 March 2025 installation)
*Canon [[Mission (Christianity)|Missioner]] – Andy Delmege (since 26 July 2020 installation)<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.birminghamcathedral.com/events/view/1029/watch-installation-service-reverend-canon-andy-delmege-canon-missioner/| title=Watch the Installation Service of the Reverend Canon Andy Delmege, Canon Missioner| website=Birmingham Cathedral}}</ref>

==Music==
===Organ===
[[File:Organ in St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham.jpg|upright|thumb|The cathedral's organ]]
The organ, originally built by [[Thomas Swarbrick]], still dates in part from 1715. It underwent repairs during the late 19th century and was moved from its original position in the gallery. It has been restored, enlarged and modernised several times, most recently by Nicholson's in 1993.<ref name=Jabet /> Details of the organ can be found at the [[National Pipe Organ Register]].<ref>{{National Pipe Organ Register|id=D02703|access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref>

===Organists===
{{See also|List of musicians at English cathedrals}}
Directors of Music and assistant organists at St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham, have included composers [[Charles John Blood Meacham]], [[Richard Yates Mander]], and [[Rupert Jeffcoat]]. Until 2018, the Director of Music was Marcus Huxley, and the Head of Music is now David Hardie with Ashley Wagner as the Assistant Head of Music.

==Bells==
Following the completion of the tower in 1725 Joseph Smith of [[Edgbaston]] provided a ring of eight bells which were subsequently augmented to ten, the tenor weighing approximately 26 [[hundredweight|cwt]] (1,320&nbsp;kg). These bells were to prove unsatisfactory for in 1751 the vestry resolved to have them recast by Thomas Lester of the [[Whitechapel Bell Foundry]] in London. The new bells were slightly larger than the previous, with a tenor weighing {{long ton||29|0|18}} in the key of D—a total weight of {{long ton||125|3|1}}, and hung in a wooden frame.

Throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries, the bells were well used, however, from 1906, the bells had become unringable, due in part to concerns about the safety of the tower. Ringing was briefly revived in 1921 but when the Coronation of 1937 provided the impetus to restore the bells they had been unringable again for several years.

The 1937 restoration was carried out by the [[Croydon]] bell founders, [[Gillett & Johnston]], the bells being recast and hung in a cast-iron frame at the base of the large louvre windows. The same foundry cast two additional treble bells in 1949, given by Frank B Yates,  to complete the ring of twelve bells that exists today. The tenor bell weighs {{long ton||31||21}} and is in the key of D.

In 2004, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry carried out rehanging and refurbishment of the frame and fittings, including further strengthening work to the upper frame and the installation of a viewing gallery, accessed from the original belfry doorway. Brian Yates, grandson of the above Frank Yates, was the principal donor for this project.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.5040.co.uk/ringing/birmingham/st-philip%27s-cathedral |title=Birmingham Cathedral Bells |last1=Pickford |first1=Christopher J |website=www.5040.co.uk/michael |publisher=Michael Wilby |access-date=23 October 2016 |archive-date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812233449/http://www.5040.co.uk/ringing/birmingham/st-philip%27s-cathedral |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Clock==
The tower clock was built by [[John Moore & Sons]] of Clerkenwell and installed in 1851<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=The New Clock for St Philip’s Church |url=https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000196/18510526/006/0003 |newspaper=Aris’s Birmingham Gazette |location=England |date=26 May 1851 |access-date=2 November 2025 |via = [[British Newspaper Archive]] |url-access=subscription }}</ref> at a cost of £400 ({{Inflation|UK|400|1851|r=-2|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}).{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[[St Philip]]
*[[List of cathedrals in the United Kingdom]]
*[[St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham|St Chad's]] ([[Catholic]])
*[[Dormition of the Mother of God and St Andrew, Birmingham|Dormition of the Mother of God and St Andrew]] ([[Eastern Orthodox Church|Greek Orthodox]])
*[[Provosts of Birmingham Cathedral]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham}}
*[http://www.birminghamcathedral.com/ St Philip's Cathedral official site]
*[http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/cities/birmingham/buildings-in-focus/st-philips-cathedral.html Looking at Buildings - Pevsner Guides - Birmingham]
*{{NHLE |num=1076173}}

{{Cathedrals of the Church of England}}
{{BirminghamBuildings}}
{{Provosts and Deans of Birmingham}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birmingham, Saint Philips Cathedral}}
[[Category:Anglican cathedrals in England]]
[[Category:Domes in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:English Baroque church buildings]]
[[Category:Grade I listed churches in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Grade I listed cathedrals]]
[[Category:Churches completed in 1725]]
[[Category:Hall churches]]
[[Category:Church of England church buildings in Birmingham, West Midlands|Birmingham]]
[[Category:Anglican Diocese of Birmingham|Saint Philip]]
[[Category:Provosts and Deans of Birmingham|Saint Philip]]
[[Category:Thomas Archer buildings]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Birmingham]]
[[Category:1725 establishments in England]]
[[Category:18th-century Church of England church buildings]]
[[Category:Church buildings with domes]]