History of St Joseph's Church

Nechells lies to the north east of Birmingham.

For over 800 years people have lived here and there have been many changes over these years.

Nechells was in the parish of Aston. The area was mainly rural (until the late 18^th century) and the people depended on agriculture to live. The land was often rented from the local landlord for grazing animals and crop growing.

In 1838 Nechells became part of the borough of Birmingham. With the rapid expansion of industries and higher wages these provided, people surged into the area. It was the era of the industrial revolution and it impacted Nechells very much.

Canals and railways were built and factories flourished. Some examples of industries were: the metal industry (guns, screws, tools, nails etc), brass foundries, button factories and jewellers. As well as large factories there were workshops of various sizes, some being converted houses and only having a few workers.

The Industrial revolution and the Irish immigration of the famine years of 1848/1849 had greatly increased the Catholic population in Birmingham and Nechells in particular. Italians also settled in nearby St Bartholomew's Ward from 1850 onwards.

Before 1850 Mass was celebrated at the home of Mrs Jane Wheatley by a priest from St Chad's Cathedral. Her son was to become the Very Rev Dean Wheatley. Mrs Wheatley died on 22^nd January 1901 aged 85 years and is buried in St Joseph's Cemetery.

The First Chapel — 1850

In 1850 the Chancel of Saint Joseph's Church was built as a mortuary Chapel for the new Catholic Cemetery in Thimblemill Lane, the first Catholic Cemetery in the city of Birmingham. The Chapel was designed by the very renowned architect Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin and built in Bath stone at a cost of £800.

On 18^th September 1850 the Chapel and Cemetery were consecrated by Dr W B Ullathorne, who was then Vicar Apostolic to the Midlands, but shortly afterwards became the first Catholic Bishop of Birmingham since the Reformation.

For 17 years Saint Joseph's was used as a mortuary chapel and for funerals for Catholics in the city of Birmingham. It also became a Mass centre served by priests from St Chad's Cathedral.

A Parish is Born — 1867

However, in 1867 a mission was established at Nechells and Father (later Canon) William Greaney was the first resident priest who lived in Lichfield Road until a school was built in the grounds of the Church.

The first marriage ceremony was performed by Father Greaney on 13^th July 1867. The school was opened in 1868.

By 1870 the Cemetery Chapel was too small and Bishop Ullathorne gave permission for its extension. A Bazaar, lasting six days, was held in Birmingham Town Hall and raised £656 for the extension of the Chapel. The Pope, Pius IX, gave a cameo brooch to be raffled.

The building of the Nave started in July 1871 and was completed the following April. It was designed by AWN Pugin's son Edward W Pugin. The cost of the Nave and adjoining house was £2658. There were two beautiful stained glass windows in the Church, one by Hardman and the other by Evans of Smethwick. Others were added later.

The 1877–1878 census showed that there were approximately 2,200 Catholics in the Parish. By 1884 the parish covered nearly 10 square miles.

Canon Chattaway and the Sisters of Charity

Canon Arthur Chattaway was appointed parish priest in 1885. He served the Parish until his death in 1922 and was held in very high regard by his parishioners. He was very involved in educational work in the diocese also. He extended the school in St Joseph's.

Canon Chattaway invited the Sisters of Charity of Saint Paul to come to work in the school in 1868. They lived at 143 Nechells Park Road until 1953 when they moved back to live in St Paul's Convent, Selly Park.

In 1968 a new school was built in Rocky Lane and was blessed on 9^th December 1970 by Archbishop Patrick Dwyer. The old schools were in need of repair and were eventually demolished.

Restoration and Renewal

The church was restored and redecorated after the Second World War by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The interior was again restored in 2001.

After the First World War there was demolition of some of the worst slums in the area but little new building.

More development took place in the 1970's and 1980's when houses were demolished and new ones were built including Tower Blocks. The population of the area was depleted and there were fewer Catholics in the area. However the Catholic school continued to grow in numbers and when the Presentation Sisters came to the Parish at the invitation of Father Gerry McArdle in 1997 there was a closer link developed between the Church and school.

Sister Bernadette Healy pbvm involved the children in Sunday Mass and started the Children's Liturgy. More parents got involved also. The Journey in Faith was started by Father Gerry and Sister Bernadette and every year we had new members joining the Church at Easter.

For some years in the 1990's and until 2008 the Parish was involved in community organising, known as 'Birmingham Citizens.' The Parish collaborated with other groups of people of Faith and none to improve the lives of people who were voiceless and living in poor conditions.