St Augustine

Introduction

St Augustine in Solihull was begun in April 1838 and designed by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin. The church is described as Pugin's first church and is the oldest of Pugin's existing churches.

History

In 1760, land for the church was given by Catholic benefactor Hugford Hassall for a priest's house and small chapel. In 1761, a three-storey priest's house was erected with a small chapel behind it. In 1884, a small front porch was added. In 1892, murals were painted by Joseph A Pippet.

In 1897, the original bell-turret was removed and the present belfry with a new bell was erected. In 2003, the side entrance porch was extended when the Parish Hall was renovated.

Architecture and furnishings

In 1866, the east wall above the altar was opened to accommodate a large five-light perpendicular window. In 1904, the three lancet windows in the west wall were replaced with the present three-light perpendicular window. A choir gallery was erected before 1904 and removed in 1979.

The church contains a C16 Flemish triptych. Windows 2 and 3 were designed by Joseph Pippet, drawn by Oswald Pippet and made by Hardman in 1902. Window 7 was designed and drawn by Elphege and Oswald Pippet and made by Harvey and Ashby Birmingham in 1904. Windows 8-16 were designed by Gabriel Pippet, drawn by Oswald Pippet and made by Hardman, in memory of Canon O’Sullivan (1877-1892).

The triptych is thought to be a gift from Pugin and is the work of a Flemish artist in the style of Rogier Van Der Weyden. The seventeenth century Italian Ivory Crucifix is positioned in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, believed to be a gift from Pugin. The stone statues of the Sacred Heart and Our Lady Queen of Heaven were carved by John Roddis of Aston and given by Joseph Pippet in memory of his parents in 1892. The mosaic of St Augustine above the 1884 front porch was designed and executed by Gabriel Pippet.

The original altar, tabernacle and piscina were designed by Pugin. The stone statues of St Peter, St Paul, St Joseph and St Augustine were carved in stone by Martyn of Cheltenham and have oak canopies. The iron candle coronas were given by a canon. The triptych's side panels depict St Jerome and St John the Baptist on the left and St Anthony the Hermit and St Francis of Assisi on the right.

A 1938 picture of the Triptych shows three carved figures above the central panel which have since been removed. The stone canopy above the Sacred Heart is carved in fifteenth century Gothic style. Window 4 depicts St James, St Chad, St George and St Elphege, designed by Gabriel Pippet, drawn by Oswald Pippet and made by Hardman in 1900. Window 6 depicts St Peter, St Maurice, St Maud and St Clare, designed by Joseph Pippet, drawn by Oswald Pippet and made by Hardman in 1909.

Parish life

The parish is a participating member of Churches Together in Central Solihull. The parish runs a Toddler Group. The parish supports a Drug and/or Alcohol Support group run by Narcotics Anonymous. The parish supports Welcome and Support for Refugees and Migrants run by Solihull Welcome.

The parish runs a Community Café. The church is a listed building.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Part of the marriage preparation includes a course organised by Marriage Care. The Worldwide Marriage Encounter Organisation arranges weekends for engaged couples.