21. COLOURS IN THE TOWER ROOM

Various regimental colours hang on the South wall of the tower room and above the North nave balcony. It is a long established custom for the colours and guidons of disbanded regiments to hang in cathedrals.   PLAN

22. FLOOR MEMORIALS

There are two notable floor plaques at the West end of the nave. One is for William Small MD, 1734 – 1775, a teacher of Thomas Jefferson, and a founder of the Lunar Society. The other acknowledges the work of Edward Burne-Jones 1833–1898, who designed the stained glass windows at the ends of the Cathedral.

23. VARIOUS PLAQUES

These plaques are found on the North side of the West nave wall. At left are remembered some several battalions which served in WWI. At centre is a plaque remembering Edward Thomason – an interesting character who was awarded multiple knigthoods. And at right we see that Queen Elizabeth II held Royal Maundy at this Cathedral in 1989.

24. NORTH NAVE

We look across to the North nave with its rounded arches and solid balcony. There was a time when many churches had balconies like this. The columns between the arches bear memorial tablets below, and painted portraits above. At the right is the Cathedral organ and the later added Corinthian pillars.

25. SOUTH NAVE

The South nave is similar in construction to the North, but without the organ and the upper paintings. The side nave windows are not stained but have an interesting etched pattern of circles. These were made by the Birmingham firm of Hardman and Co at a cost of £200.

26. TO THE CRUCIFIXION CHAPEL

The North nave aisle and seating are of course below the balcony. Ahead is a small chapel with altar below a distinctive crucifix. On either side, a figure stands holding a candlestick. This arrangement by Peter Eugene Ball dates from 1986. In the wall at left is an aumbry with a Chi-Rho symbol on the door.        PLAN

27. PULPIT

St Philip’s Cathedral is an interesting array of contrasts. The plain pulpit could not be simpler. Yet it stands next to two sedilia which are carved in detail, and below the intricately designed golden baroque frieze.

28. ORGAN PIPES

A set of organ pipes stands at the East end of the North balcony. The organ was made by Thomas Schwarbrick of Warwick. Its case is original (1715) although its workings have been rebuilt on a number of occasions..    

29. CHANCEL

We now prepare to leave the nave and move to the chancel and sanctuary. From here there is a lectern at right, and ahead a simple nave altar with paschal candle at left. Our eyes are drawn forward to the gold columns and stained glass windows – the sanctuary!  PLAN

30. NAVE ALTAR AND FLOOR MEMORIAL

This memorial is just in front of the nave altar. It remembers Bishop John Leonard Wilson who was Bishop of Birmingham between 1953 and 1969. During the Second World War when serving as Bishop of Singapore, he was interned and tortured by the Japanese army. Despite his terrible treatment he famously baptized some of his captors.

31. PASCHAL CANDLE AND LECTERN

The lectern, like the pulpit, is surprisingly plain in contrast to the chairs beyond. The paschal candle is a symbol of the light of Christ. Its symbolism is particularly significant over the Easter period.

32. DEAN’S CHAIR AND CATHEDRA

At the left is the Dean’s chair, used by the priest in charge of the Cathedral. On the other side of the chancel stand two chairs. The chair at left bearing the bishop’s mitre is the cathedra, and it is from here that this Church gains the designation ‘Cathedral’.    

33. ORGAN CONSOLE

The organ was originally located in the gallery at the West end of the nave in front of the tower, but this was removed by J A Chatwin as part of his alterations in the 1880s. The most recent change was in 1933 when it was enlarged and modernized by Nicholson’s. The console has four manuals.

34. CHANCEL ORGAN PIPES

The organ pipes showing from the chancel have some nice detail at the top. The organ is in fact two instruments in one. The first, South facing, is for accompanying a choir in the chancel. The second, West facing, speaks from the gallery for use in the nave (recitals. voluntaries and accompanying the congregation).

35. NORTH CHOIR STALLS

The choir stalls are nicely carved without being over-ornate.

36. CHANCEL CEILING

The ceiling of the chancel continues the theme of simple ornateness, with its lattice of squared gilded roses.

37. SANCTUARY

We finally approach the sanctuary: two banners and a cross, and some glimpses of beautiful stained glass windows. We observe that there is no high altar ... . And across the front, delightful wrought iron railings dating from c 1715. They were designed by Robert Bakewell, the finest decorative metalmaker of his day. They are an outstanding example of English baroque design.        PLAN

38. BANNERS AND CANDLESTICK

Mothers’ Union is an international Christian charity that seeks to support families worldwide. The organisation was founded by Mary Sumner in 1876 in the Church of England parish of Old Alresford, near Winchester, where her husband was rector. The curious candlestick sits below the side Crucifixion window. It celebrates a 50 year old partnership of the Birmingham Cathedral with the Church in Malawi.     

39. SIDE WINDOWS

The Nativity Window and Crucifixion Window by Burne-Jones are placed on either side of the sanctuary. Burne-Jones was baptised at St Philips, so had a personal connection with the Church. The imagery of the windows was influenced by Medieval artworks, but he used them in a completely new way. The forms and shapes are simplified, but enhanced with striking colours, expecially reds, pinks and blues.    

40. EAST ASCENSION WINDOW

The central sanctuary window is ‘The Ascension’ window, which was the first window of the set created. The design depicts Christ standing in his heavenly realm clad in red robes and surrounded by angels with his disciples and other followers looking upwards in prayer.

41. SANCTUARY CROSS

The High Altar Cross was made from pieces of crystal quartz by John Donald in 1963. The Cross is a common focus for Christian congregations, but for me, this unusual Cross picks up the Nativity theme of the nearby window – the star in the east – as well as the baroque decoration of this Cathedral. This completes our tour of St Philip’s.