st catherine

st catherine's story

Having raised £418.11s.0d, the 'Estate Trustees', in March 1905, spent £402.9s.6d. to purchase from the Executors of the late Joseph Gillott the 'land, Schoolhouse, Chapel and Buildings which Joseph Gillott had maintained as an elementary school and allowed to be used on Sundays for divine worship of the Church of England'. The new Trustees agreed to same continuing use in perpetuity.

By this deed the school and mission church was transferred from the estate of the Founder to Trustees and so enabled the continuation of worship and schooling which continued until 1974 when the school was closed. Joseph Gillott was the landowner of most of the farms, houses and country estates in the area East of Solihull. He was born on 21st November 1826, the second son of Joseph Gillott who had established a very successful business as a pen (nib) manufacturer. The elder Joseph Gillott had improved the prospects of his business spectacularly by inventing and patenting the hole in the pen nib which enables the nib to hold more ink and thus write longer.

Joseph Gillott was the landowner of most of the farms, houses and country estates in the area East of Solihull. He was born on 21st November 1826, the second son of Joseph Gillott who had established a very successful business as a pen (nib) manufacturer. The elder Joseph Gillott had improved the prospects of his business spectacularly by inventing and patenting the hole in the pen nib which enables the nib to hold more ink and thus write longer.

A brass tablet in the chancel in memory of the younger Joseph Gillott records that he 'maintained this church and school' for the people of Catherine de Barnes from AD 1879', (when he built it), 'until his entering into rest on July 3rd AD 1903'.

To build such a dual purpose facility over a hundred years ago demonstrated considerable imagination and conviction. Joseph Gillott was concerned to provide the many children in the district with a more convenient school than either Hampton in Arden or Solihull. At the same time he also saw the benefit of providing the local people, many of whom worked for him, with their own place of worship. The building was built to the Glory of God, at considerable personal expense, and the only reference to Mr Gillott is a stone monogram let into the external brickwork.

Apart from a period from the nineteen-twenties till the eighties when a local WI Hall was used as the village hall, the church and school has also served the local people for social events and residents business.

The building in Hampton Lane is constructed in brick with a tiled roof. The main hall served as classroom for two classes for many years as well as being the 'nave' of the chapel or mission church. The Eastern chancel, which is furnished for worship with altar and rail, is curtained off for secular events.

A single storey room adjacent to the chancel was used as the teachers' staff room and now, as a two-storey vestry, provides two rooms for the flourishing Sunday School. In addition, the kitchen and cloakroom facilities serve both church and hall, though various additional external structures have been removed.

One external addition was a terrapin classroom. This was removed in 1974 when the church ceased to be used also as a school. There are a number of residents of several generations who attended this school over the years. Mrs Emily Tuby, of Lugtrout Lane has a photograph of herself in 1907, aged eight, with the teachers and schoolchildren against the backdrop of their school and church.

The church's main windows are of the gothic style, the East window having three lights with the only stained glass. The centre light depicts Mary and the child Jesus over a representation of King David. This window is in memory of Maria Gillott, the founder's wife who died in 1882. The altar rail was presented in 1914, 'To the Glory of God and in affectionate Remembrance of Joseph Gillott'. An ornately framed photograph of Joseph Gillott, wearing a cross on his watch chain, recognises him as Founder in 1879. The brass altar bookstand records Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Of outstanding interest is the wooden font which also serves as the village War Memorial. Mr 'Pete' Peters, Honorary 'Hall' Manager, recently provided the British Museum National Survey of War Memorials with a detailed description including that recorded on it are the names of those who were killed in the two world wars.

Over the years, the ownership has passed to the Church of England and St Catherine's Church is now managed under a registered charity of which the PCC of St Alphege are Managing Trustees. A local District Church Committee is charged with undertaking the responsibilities which continue to be in line with the original trust: 'for furthering the religious and charitable work of the Church of England in the Parish of St Alphege'. May the vision of Joseph Gillott continue and flourish.

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