Christ Church, Birmingham, Parish church in Birmingham, England.
Christ Church was a parish church in Birmingham, standing at the corner of Ann Street and New Street, with a square western tower topped by an octagonal belfry and a gothic spire. The building held around 1500 worshippers, with galleries above and free open seating on the ground floor below.
The foundation stone was laid in 1805 under King George III by George Legge, Third Earl of Dartmouth. The church became independent from St Martin's and St Philip's parishes in 1865 and was demolished in 1899.
The ground floor offered free seating to all visitors, which earned the building the nickname "Free Church" among local people. This open approach was unusual at a time when most church pews were rented or sold to regular worshippers.
The church no longer exists, and the site is now part of a much-changed area in Birmingham city center. Visiting the New Street area can still help you picture where the building once stood at this busy intersection.
The remains of John Baskerville, one of the most influential printers and type designers of the 18th century, were buried inside the building before its demolition. The typeface he created still carries his name and is widely used today.
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