| AdminHistory | Sedgley was initially an extensive parish and manor, including Coseley, Gornal and Ettingshall. The original church was founded by Dudley Priory, who appointed the vicars, and the core of the present tower is medieval, possibly even Norman. The church was rebuilt between 1826 and 1829 by architect Thomas Lee using funds from the Earl of Dudley; further restoration was carried out in 1882, when the galleries were removed. Many of the bells, which were recast in 1976, date back to 1720, and the clock is from 1829. The church contains interesting memorials and stained glass windows. St Andrew's Church, The Straits was opened in 1914 and is still in use. St Barnabas Mission Church at Gospel End was built around 1870, as Gospel End School, for infants only, and possibly licensed for divine service at weekends. The property was conveyed by the Earl of Dudley on 1st June 1871 to the Vicar and Churchwardens of Dudley, to be held by them for the purposes of a school. It appears to have ceased to be used as a school around 1912, as there is a deed dated 22nd May 1913 from the Earl of Dudley, which relates to the re-grant of the property as a Mission Church. St. Barnabas Church closed in the early 1980s and the building was sold in 1987, becoming a private house. The proceeds of the sale, £59933-75, became the permanent endowment of the Sedgley Educational Trust. The Trust scheme was approved by the Charity Commission in 1999, and the area of benefit of the Trust is the greater parish of Sedgley as it was in 1870, i.e. the ecclesiastical parishes of All Saints', Sedgley, St. Mary The Virgin, Sedgley and St. Chad's, Coseley. |