Birmingham Oratory

The Birmingham Oratory is a Catholic place of worship in Edgbaston featuring a prominent dome and neo-Baroque design completed by architect Edward Doran Webb between 1907 and 1910. The interior accommodates daily worship and visitors can explore the building's religious spaces and historical furnishings.

Cardinal John Henry Newman founded this religious community in 1849 as the first Oratory of Saint Philip Neri house in England. The present building was constructed decades later as the congregation expanded and required a dedicated worship space.

The Oratory is known for its musical richness, with works by composers like Palestrina, Haydn, and Mozart performed during services throughout the year. The community maintains this musical tradition as a central part of worship, drawing visitors who wish to experience these classical compositions in a religious setting.

The building is accessible via the car park and offers daily masses in Latin and English. Visitors will find a shop selling religious items and books at the site.

The Oratory preserves Cardinal Newman's personal papers and living quarters, where he resided from 1852 until his death in 1890. These spaces offer a glimpse into the life of a significant 19th-century English religious figure.

Location: Birmingham

Architects: Edward Doran Webb

Architectural style: neobarok

Part of: The Church of the Immaculate Conception (The Oratory), the Oratory Priests' House and the Former Oratory School Buildings

Website: http://birmingham-oratory.org.uk

GPS coordinates: 52.47220,-1.92880

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:20