St Catherine's Church, Nechells

St Catherine’s Church stands on Scholefield Street in Nechells, Birmingham. It was designed by Frank Barlow Osborn and Alfred Reading and opened in 1878. The foundation stone was laid in July 1877 and the Bishop of Worcester consecrated the building that November. A new parish was created for the church in 1879 after it was separated from St Clement’s. During the Second World War an air raid damaged the building and it closed in 1945. The church was later united with St Matthew’s in Duddeston and Nechells. After the union the structure was demolished and only the site remains. An organ by Henry Jones had been installed in 1878 but was removed before demolition. The National Pipe Organ Register holds the organ’s full specification. Today the site is grassed and quiet. A few gravestones mark where the church once stood. The surrounding streets show signs of later development. The church’s former presence is recognised by local historians. The area has lost its main landmark but keeps the name Nechells.