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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 parts of the city, the community also serves the parish in 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 .[ 1]
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 , 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.[ 1] [ 2]
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.[ 3]
In July 1847, St Mary's Church was opened and consecrated by Bishop William Wareing . After St Francis of Assisi Church was built opposite the convent in 1894, St Mary's Church became the convent chapel.[ 2]
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.[ 4]
View along Hunters Road
Side of the convent
^ a b British Listed Buildings retrieved 13 April 2013^ a b Slevin, Malachy St Francis Church Handsworth (Birmingham, 1994), pp.1-17
^ Lozells from William Dargue - A History of Birmingham retrieved 13 April 2013^ Governors from St Francis Catholic School, retrieved 14 April 2013
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