BOURNVILLE* St Lazar (Serbian Orthodox) 3, 9-1-23 in Ab
| Grid Reference | 139/034809 |  |
| Postcode | B30 1QG | |
| Recording | None Available | |
| Affiliation | St Martin's Guild | |
| Peals | None | |
| Sunday | None | |
| Practice | None |
History
This church was built in 1965-8 for the community of Serbs who had fled from Yugoslavia after the Second World War and settled in Birmingham. The building of the church was led by Father Zebic, priest to the Serbian community from 1956 until the 1990s. Designed in the ancient Serbian style, the church was built by Serbian craftsmen using many materials imported specially from Yugoslavia. As is traditional in this denomination, there are no pews in the church. More recently, in 1986-7, St.Lazar’s Cultural Centre has been built alongside the church.
At the bottom of the walls are the warrior saints, above these are patriarchs and priestly saints, and at the top are the apostles and scenes from the 12 Christian feasts. These wall-paintings have not only been executed in a perfect Byzantine style but they also are al-fresco i.e. the paint had been applied meticulously to wet walls.
The south west tower contains three bells in A flat, the largest having a diameter of 37 inches. They have no stays or sliders and are therefore really a swing chime. However, they can be rung full circle. They form a triad in Ab, i.e. Eb, C and Ab.
In May 2018 an order was placed with Taylors for the fitting of linear motors and drive chains to all three bells to automise the ringing of them. It is noted on their website as being completed in September 2018. However, Taylors have said that the bells are still able to be rung full circle.
(Most of the above information is quoted directly (with permission) from the research notes of Chris Pickford)
Details of the Bells
1 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1967 3-1-19 26.00" 1232.0Hz (Eb-17c)
2 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1967 4-3-24 30.00" 1036.0Hz (C-17c)
3 John Taylor & Co, Loughborough 1967 9-1-23 37.00" 827.5Hz (Ab-6c)
Photo Callery |
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| A view of the rear of the church showing the central dome |
A close-up of the belfry. The frame and bells can be clearly seen |
Rings B