Date:1842 - 1848 (c.)
Description:In 1842, when the Rev Edward Bird became Rector of the Parish, he found himself faced with a difficult task, in spite of all that his predecessor had accomplished. The City was then heaving in the last throes of Chartism, the Church had become almost empty, and Sunday labour was not only allowed by was encouraged by public opinion. As Sunday trading was general in the Parish, Mr Bird resolved to make a fearless protest against it, and the convulsion of this Crusade is of interest. For some time he had visions of success in his struggle with the evil. By preaching, by personal visiting and by gentle constant persuasion, he got so far as to secure promises from all his parishioners except two to give it up. The promises were, however, conditional on the surrender of the two exceptions. But the two remaining traders refused to close their shops, and the Law was brought to bear upon them through one of the Churchwardens, who took out summonses and served them himself. This roused fierce wrath in the Parish. A crowd waylaid Mr Bird and showered on him stones, mud and insults. But worse was still to come. Not only did he lose hold of those who had been almost won, but many of the Members of the Congregation whom he counted on the side of righteousness, at the bidding of Mammon, forsook their Rector and left the Church. Injured and humiliated, his health broke down and he caught scarlet fever whilst visiting. The illness lasted so long that he was ordered to take a long rest, and in 1848 left Birmingham for Eastbourne. (text by E.R.Mason)
The timeline shows resources around this location over a number of years.
E.R. Mason writes about the establishment of St Thomas's Church: In 1825 the ...
The Ref G S Bull was instituted to the Living in 1849 and for 15 years he gave of ...
the Rev. T D Halstead who came to the Parish from St Paul’s Greenwich. During his ...
This Agreement made on the third day of March one thousand eight hundred and ninety ...
In 1919, the Trustees (of St Thomas's Church) appointed to the Living the Rev. C ...
A new pupil is introduced to their class mates at St Thomas's School. Sadly the ...
The school came up with a unique idea for a garden on the rooftop playground. Plants ...
Share:
Image courtesy of: St Thomas's School
Donor ref:(67/8261)
Source: Mr Ron Butler , Mrs Gwen Hatton , Ms Angela Dyer , Mrs May Williams , Mr Arthur Sadler , Mrs Janet Abbotts , Ms Rose Pearson , Mrs Dolly Ray , Mrs Pamela Edwards , Mrs Betty Queen , Mr Ken Smith , Ms Julia Wagstaffe , Woodview Primary School , Ms Carol Woolley , St Thomas's School , E.R. Mason Youth Centre , Mr Bernard Allen , Mrs Gladys Russell , Mrs Pat Jones , Ms Angela Maloney , St Thomas Old Scholars , Mr Ken Bonham
Copyright information: Copyrights to all resources are retained by the individual rights holders. They have kindly made their collections available for non-commercial private study & educational use. Re-distribution of resources in any form is only permitted subject to strict adherence to the usage guidelines.