View source for St Mary's Convent, Handsworth

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox monastery
| name           = St Mary's Convent
| image          = Entrance St Mary's Convent, Handsworth.JPG
| alt            =
| caption        = St Mary's Convent entrance
| full           = St Mary's Convent, Sisters of Mercy, Handsworth
| other_names    = 
| order          = [[Sisters of Mercy]]
| established    = {{Start date|1840}}
| disestablished =
| nodislink      = 
| mother         =
| dedication     = [[Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic)|Blessed Virgin Mary]]
| diocese        = [[Archdiocese of Birmingham|Birmingham]]
| churches       =
| founder        = 
| people         = [[Hardman & Co.|John Hardman]]
| architect      = [[Augustus Pugin]] 
| heritage_designation = [[Listed building|Grade II* listed]] 
| location       = [[Lozells]], [[Birmingham]], [[England]]
| map_type       = United Kingdom West Midlands
| coordinates    = {{coord|52.4980|-1.9150|type:landmark_region:GB-BIR|display=inline,title}}
| oscoor         = SP0586488903
| remains        =
| public_access  = Yes
| other_info     =
}}

'''St Mary's Convent''' is a house for the community of the local [[Sisters of Mercy]] in [[Birmingham]]. Although it is situated between the [[Lozells]] and [[Hockley, West Midlands|Hockley]] parts of the city, the community also serves the parish in [[Handsworth, West Midlands|Handsworth]]. It was founded in 1840 and was designed by [[Augustus Pugin]]. On 25 April 1952 it was designated as a Grade II* listed building by [[English Heritage]].<ref name=listed/>

==History==

===Foundation===
In 1840, the [[Sisters of Mercy]] came to Birmingham at the invitation of [[Nicholas Wiseman]].  At the time he was [[coadjutor bishop]] of [[Thomas Walsh (vicar apostolic)|Thomas Walsh]], the [[Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District]].

They set up a convent with the help of many interested parties. John Hardman of [[Hardman & Co.]] who lived opposite donated the land for them. The cost of building the convent was met by Hardman and the [[Earl of Shrewsbury]] who donated £2000. They then commissioned [[Augustus Pugin]] to design the building for them.

The chapel of the convent, dedicated to [[Saint Mary]] served as the parish church until 1847.<ref name=listed>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-217308-convent-of-our-lady-of-mercy- British Listed Buildings] retrieved 13 April 2013</ref><ref name=history>Slevin, Malachy ''St Francis Church Handsworth'' (Birmingham, 1994), pp.1-17</ref>

===St Mary's Church===
In 1845, with the local Catholic population increasing, the convent chapel was no longer large enough to accommodate the congregation. So they decided to build a larger church next to the convent.<ref name=lozells>[http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-l/lozells/ Lozells] from ''William Dargue - A History of Birmingham'' retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>

In July 1847, St Mary's Church was opened and consecrated by [[William Wareing|Bishop William Wareing]]. After [[St Francis of Assisi Church, Handsworth|St Francis of Assisi Church]] was built opposite the convent in 1894, St Mary's Church became the convent chapel.<ref name=history/>

However, St Mary's Church was destroyed during [[World War II]] and not rebuilt. The site of the church is now occupied by St Francis Catholic Primary School. The school has a close relationship with the convent next door who have a representative on the school's board of governors.<ref>[http://www.stfranrc.bham.sch.uk/governors.php Governors] from St Francis Catholic School, retrieved 14 April 2013</ref>

==Exterior==
<gallery>
St Mary's Convent, Handsworth.JPG|View along Hunters Road
South Side St Mary's Convent, Handsworth.JPG|Side of the convent
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[St Francis of Assisi Church, Handsworth]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.mercyhandsworth.co.uk/ St. Mary's Centre]

{{Birmingham buildings}}
{{Archdiocese of Birmingham}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary's Convent, Handsworth}}
[[Category:1840 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the West Midlands (county)|Handsworth]]
[[Category:Augustus Pugin buildings]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival architecture in the West Midlands (county)]]
[[Category:Gothic Revival church buildings in England]]
[[Category:Grade II listed Roman Catholic churches in England]]
[[Category:Sisters of Mercy]]