St. Dunstan

Introduction

Saint Dunstan's Church in Birmingham was built between 1966 and 1968 to designs by Jack Edmondson of Desmond Williams & Associates. The church features stained glass by John Hardman Studios and sculpture by John Poole.

History

In 1941 a bomb destroyed the church in Station Road and two rooms in Kingsfield Road were joined to make a temporary church. In 2019 the church underwent reordering including new underfloor heating, an extended sanctuary, new altar and ambo, and a new extension for toilets and kitchen. The new altar was consecrated on 6th November 2021.

The Ove Arup practice was employed as structural engineers for the church. The budget for the work was £95,000. The church hall of 1953 was converted to form a community centre in 1973. The original Lady chapel was converted to a chapel for the Blessed Sacrament, with a screen of etched glass to divide it from the principal space.

The stepped area of the sanctuary was enlarged and the original altar table was replaced by a smaller one and a fixed reading desk, or ambo, was made to replace the wooden lectern, all by the time of the dedication in May 1993. The refurbishment of St Dunstan's commenced on Monday 24th June 2019 and finished on Friday 6th December 2019.

Architecture and furnishings

The building is a large segment of a circle, with the main body formed by two-thirds of a circle and a vestry area attached to the south-west flank. The western front has a tall, slender tower to the centre which acts as the principal structural support for the roof. Above the sanctuary is a large statue of the Risen Christ by John Poole. The Stations of the Cross are in stained glass by John Hardman Studios, of chipped and faceted slab glass set in epoxy resin.

The lower walling is of brown bricks laid in Flemish bond to the interior and stretcher bond outside. The roof support is of wood with steel trusses and timber purlins and is covered in aluminium sheeting. The interior has an entrance by a ramp leading to a processional route curving around the outer edge of the curved body. The sanctuary is a semi-circular dais approached by three steps and set against the west wall.

There is a balcony with organ curving around the east wall. The tower has a central, vertical channel and a cross, in relief, to its top. To the right of the tower are three vertical strip windows, representative of the Trinity, set in plain walling. The roof rises by a series of steps to curve around the tower, with glazed risers, like a spiral staircase with the tower as central newel.

The ceiling has timber boarding to the outer body and a semi-circular roof light to the centre. Curved, fixed seating in the body and balcony is of pine, radiating from the sanctuary, with hinged kneelers. Panelling to internal doors and the balcony front is chevron-patterned. The vestry has a series of original cabinets and cupboards fitted to the curved form of the room. The three lancet windows set in angled reveals represent the Trinity: blue for the Father, red for the Saviour and yellow for the Holy Spirit.

Parish life

The Lent Study Groups meet online or on church premises for five sessions to study the Scriptures, often following the York Courses, with numbers attending averaging 50 each year. The Walk of Witness on Good Friday starts with a meditation service at the New Life Baptist Church, then processes silently behind a twelve-foot cross up the High Street to All Saints.

Penitential Services are held in the parish twice each year, with one in Advent and one in Lent. Each year there is a special 'Service for the Sick' at St Dunstan's. Every month a special Mass is said during which couples married in that month are invited to renew their marriage vows.

The parish instituted Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in 1996. The parish has a Conference Room, built in 2013 in place of the old garages, which quickly became an area that Parish groups used for their different activities.

Sacraments and pastoral care

A meeting with the parish priest is arranged before the date of a child's Baptism. Adults who wish to be Baptised should speak to the parish priest. Parents wishing to have their children who attend non-Catholic Schools prepared for the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Communion and Confirmation should first make themselves known at Sunday Masses to the Parish Clergy.

Children at Catholic schools are prepared for Confirmation in their final year at primary school. To begin arranging a marriage, couples are asked to contact the Parish at least a year ahead of the proposed wedding day.