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Site:
Headless Cross Methodist Church,
Evesham Road, Headless Cross
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Grid Reference:
SP 0415 6240
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Methodist church. Founded 1827 and rebuilt 1858, 1873 and finally in 1897 by Ewen Harper of Birmingham, with mid and late 20th century alterations and additions. Brick with stone dressings and machine-tiled roof with parapet and finial at south end. 3-bay aisled nave aligned north/south with clerestory and with single-bay chancel separated visually from the nave by a pilaster buttress and having a north vestry and south organ chamber. Perpendicular style. 3-stage tower at south-west end with corner pilaster buttresses. Loopholes to second stage, paired cusped belfry openings and openwork stone spire with parapet and crocketted detail. Tower has a 20 cwt concrete pendulum to counterbalance the spire. Main entrance at base of tower with gabled surround enclosing trefoil, and hoodmould. Aisles have a 3-light window in the central bay and 4-light windows in the flanking bays. Clerestory windows are of 3 lights. South end of nave has a pair of ground and upper floor 3-light windows. Chancel has a 6-light north window. Interior includes 3-bay arcades with pointed arches, hoodmoulds and carved spandrels on ribbed cast-iron columns with moulded capitals and bases. Unusual raked floor to nave. Hammerbeam roof in pitch pine with dentilled wall plate. Panelled gallery with ramped seating and canted central section accessed by newel stair with fine moulded balusters. Panelled part-glazed doors with leaded lights and coloured glass. Fittings include a pair of Arts and Crafts oak chairs. Brass memorial to Lusitania victim, John Henry Harper died 7 May 1915. Stained glass includes south aisle window c.1900 by T.H. Yates of Smethwick.
Hall adjoining to west incorporates part of the 1873 church and can be identified by its blue brick detail and round-arched lights. It now serves as a Sunday school and community centre.
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This substantial late 19th century church is of undoubted architectural merit and incorporates some unusual features, including a raked floor, cast-iron columns, a large gallery, and a fine openwork spire that forms a striking landmark. Spires of this type are common in much of Ewen Harper�s work, an architect also responsible for the Central Methodist Hall in Corporation Street, Birmingham. Apart from its architectural and historic interest, and its contribution to the townscape, the building has played a prominent role in the social life of the local community for over a century.
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