Birmingham Cathedral
Birmingham Cathedral
Birmingham Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of St Philip on Colmore Row, is a Grade I English Baroque church by Thomas Archer, consecrated in 1715 and raised to cathedral status in 1905 as the seat of the Diocese of Birmingham.
- Location
- Birmingham, West Midlands
- Country
- England
- County
- West Midlands
- City / town
- Birmingham
- Address
- Colmore Row, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 2QB
- Postcode
- B3 2QB
- Built
- Designed 1709; consecrated 1715; tower completed 1725
- Consecrated
- 4 October 1715
- Architect
- Thomas Archer; refaced and extended by J A Chatwin
- Denomination
- Church of England
- Dedication
- Philip
- Diocese
- Birmingham
- Parish
- Cathedral Church of St Philip, Birmingham
- Grade
- I
- Style
- English Baroque
- Materials
- Stone, refaced 1864–69
- Grid reference
- SP 069 870
- Opening hours
- The cathedral is open every day and admission is free.
- Access
- Accessible toilets in church. Level access to the main areas
Overview
Historic England records a design of 1709, consecration in 1715, and a tower completed in 1725. Archer’s first large commission, it is a major monument of the English Baroque. The plan is rectangular with slight east and west projections for chancel and tower; aisles extend beyond the nave to form vestibules. J. A. Chatwin refaced the stone in 1864–69 and extended Archer’s shallow apsidal chancel in 1883–84. Side elevations have arched windows separated by Doric pilasters, an entablature, and a parapet with urns. The cathedral was restored after war damage in 1947–48.
The official cathedral history states that Elizabeth Phillips gave the land and that the church was named St Philip as a compliment to her family; it was consecrated on 4 October 1715. Principal furnishings include the 1715 organ-case by Thomas Schwarbrick of Warwick, wrought-iron chancel rails, and stained-glass windows of 1885–97 designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and made by William Morris. The Diocese of Birmingham was created in 1905 with Charles Gore as first bishop. Admission is free and the cathedral is open every day.