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St Mary

St Mary

Lozells

West Midlands

SP 09 SE 3/16 5104 25.4.52 BIRMINGHAM HAMSTEAD ROAD Lozells B19 Church of St Mary (Formerly listed under Handsworth) II* Of C12-early C13 origin but much enlarged and rebuilt completely in the C19.

Architectural Features

upper part with crenellated parapet C15.

The north chapel retains an early C16 3-light east window and a similar one to the north.

Reset early C14 piscina east of the arcade.

In the west wall of the tower giving on the south aisle is a small blocked round headed window with moulded string over seemingly late C12 origin.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MATTHEW BOULTON, F. R.S.

BY THE SKILFUL EXERTION OF A MIND TURNED TO PHILOSOPHY AND MECHANICS, THE APPLICATION OF A TASTE CORRECT AND REFINED.

AND AN ARDENT SPIRIT OF ENTERPRIZE, HE IMPROVED EMBELLISHED, AND EXTENDED THE ARTS AND MANUFACTURES OF HIS COUNTRY:

LEAVING HIS ESTABLISHMENT OF SOHO A NOBLE MONUMENT OF HIS GENIUS, INDUSTRY. AND SUCCESS.

THE CHARACTER HIS TALENTS HAD RAISED. HIS VIRTUES ADORNED AND EXALTED.

ACTIVE TO DISCOVER MERIT, AND PROMPT TO RELIEVE DISTRESS.

HIS ENCOURAGEMENT WAS LIBERAL, HIS BENEVOLENCE UNWEARIED.

HONOURED AND ADMIRED AT HOME AND ABROAD.

HE CLOSED A LIFE EMINENTLY USEFUL, THE 17TH OF AUGUST 1809, AGED 81 ESTEEMED, LOVED, AND LAMENTED.

The monument is placed on the north wall of the chancel. The bust is by Flaxman. Boulton, his business partner James Watt and William Murdoch are all interred in this church. A notice reminds us that "Matthew Boulton famously walked out when the Rector at the time denounced - from the pulpit - his intention to marry his dead wife's sister (to hang on to her money)."

See the listing of this church at the Historic England site https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1076358?section=official-list-entry .

Among the furnishings are a good wall monument by Flaxman consisting of a bust of Matthew Boulton + 18O9 with 2 putti below one of them holding a picture of the Soho Works and another monument to William Murdoch + 1839 consisting of a stone bust by Chantrey set in a pointed arch.

SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MATTHEW BOULTON, F. R.S. BY THE SKILFUL EXERTION OF A MIND TURNED TO PHILOSOPHY AND MECHANICS, THE APPLICATION OF A TASTE CORRECT AND REFINED. AND AN ARDENT SPIRIT OF ENTERPRIZE, HE IMPROVED EMBELLISHED, AND EXTENDED THE ARTS AND MANUFACTURES OF HIS COUNTRY: LEAVING HIS ESTABLISHMENT OF SOHO A NOBLE MONUMENT OF HIS GENIUS, INDUSTRY. AND SUCCESS. THE CHARACTER HIS TALENTS HAD RAISED. HIS VIRTUES ADORNED AND EXALTED. ACTIVE TO DISCOVER MERIT, AND PROMPT TO RELIEVE DISTRESS. HIS ENCOURAGEMENT WAS LIBERAL, HIS BENEVOLENCE UNWEARIED. HONOURED AND ADMIRED AT HOME AND ABROAD. HE CLOSED A LIFE EMINENTLY USEFUL, THE 17TH OF AUGUST 1809, AGED 81 ESTEEMED, LOVED, AND LAMENTED. The monument is placed on the north wall of the chancel. The bust is by Flaxman. Boulton, his business partner James Watt and William Murdoch are all interred in this church. A notice reminds us that "Matthew Boulton famously walked out when the Rector at the time denounced - from the pulpit - his intention to marry his dead wife's sister (to hang on to her money)." See the listing of this church at the Historic England site https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1076358?section=official-list-entry .

© A J Paxton

Also a number of minor monuments by William and Peter Hollins.

The church is set in a leafy churchyard with very many and varied monuments.