st alphege

In 1277 William de Odingsells, who was knighted in 1283, founded the Chantry of Haliwell (or Holy Well) for the singing of masses for the souls of his ancestors, his descendants and himself.

To maintain a priest it was endowed by William with land near St. Alphege's Well, and also by his mother Joan and her second husband, another Ralph de Limesi. In 1438 an endowment by Thomas Greswold was added. No doubt Sir William intended to be buried here in a tomb appropriate to his high rank, but he died in Ireland, in 1295, and was buried there.

The stained glass shields, in the window overlooking the chancel, recall these families and form a link with members of the American Griswold family whose ancestors left Warwickshire for New England in the 1630s.

By an Act passed in 1547, all Chantries were suppressed and in 1566 the revenues of this chantry were added to those of St. Katherine's and St. Mary's Chapels which in 1560 had been diverted to pay the stipend of a schoolmaster. Thus began the Free Grammar School which ultimately became Solihull School.

The Chantry Chapel of St Alphege is a room of colour and beauty. The delightful east window (1908), with its rich details of flora and fauna, is by Bertram Lamplugh, a follower of the Arts and Crafts movement. Windows on the north side portray the life and martyrdom of St. Alphege. There are traces of ancient wall decorations which are a reminder that the pre-Reformation church had been rich with colourful murals. With the Blessed Sacrament reserved here this beautiful chapel becomes a centre of private prayer and devotion.

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ST ALPHEGE

Sundays

8.00am Holy Eucharist (said)

9.15am Parish Eucharist & Sunday Club (2nd Sunday : All-age Eucharist)

Plus on 4th Sunday 'easy' in OBH rejoining Parish Eucharist at communion

11.00am Sung Eucharist

(traditional language)

6.30pm (except 4th Sunday)

Choral Evensong

6.30pm (4th Sunday)

Congregational Evensong

Plus at 6.00pm (1st Sunday)

‘the space’ – informal parish worship

(in the Oliver Bird Hall)

Weekday Eucharists

Monday 9.30am

Tuesday 9.30am

Wednesday 10.15am

Thursday 10.30am

  1st in month - Healing

  3rd in month - Mothers' Union

  Corporate Eucharist

Saturday 9.30am

Daily Morning Prayer

Mon-Sat 9.00am

(Wednesday 8.30am in term time)

ST HELEN

Sundays

8.00am Eucharist (Book of Common Prayer)

10.00am Parish Eucharist and Sunday Club 3rd Sunday : All-age worship (non-eucharistic)

6.30pm Evening Worship in Chapel

6.30pm (2nd Sunday) Wholeness and Healing service in Chapel.

Weekday Eucharist

Friday 10.00am

ST MICHAEL

Sundays

10.30am Holy Eucharist and Sunday Club (Sharmans Cross School)

10.30am (2nd Sunday) All-age worship (Sharmans Cross School).

4.30pm (2nd Sunday) Holy Communion (St Michael's Chapel).

Weekday Eucharist

Wednesday 10.00am at Oak Cottage