St Edburgha's Church, Yardley

St Edburgha’s Church stands in the Yardley district of Birmingham, a Grade I listed building that forms part of the Old Yardley conservation area. The church dates from the 13th century and was built by Aston Church within the Diocese of Lichfield. It is dedicated to Edburgha of Winchester, King Alfred’s granddaughter, who was canonised in 972. The nave, north aisle and Becket Chapel belong to the 14th and 15th centuries, while the tower and spire were completed in 1461. The spire’s central section was restored in 1898 after earlier damage. The church contains features linked to Tudor royalty and medieval craftsmanship. Above the north aisle doorway a carved Tudor rose and pomegranate recall the marriage of Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon. The tower base shows scraped incisions whose purpose remains unknown. Inside, an alabaster slab commemorates Thomas and Marion Est from 1462, now heavily worn. The tower houses eight bells, recast in 1950 after earlier sets were damaged by death watch beetle. Visitors find a working church with historic fabric still in use. The metal clock on the tower replaces an earlier wooden one that once blocked a window. The interior retains the 1926 nave roof and a 1997 organ installed by Organ Tuning Services. The churchyard and surrounding conservation area preserve the character of old Yardley, where services once struggled with gnats before moving indoors.