All Saints’, Small Heath.—­Rev. G.F.B.  Cross, M.A., Vicar.  Soon after the death of the Rev. J. Oldknow, D.D., of Holy Trinity, in 1874, it was resolved to carry out his dying wishes by erecting a church in the fast-filling district of Small Heath.  At first the iron building formerly used as a place of worship in Cannon Hill Park was put up, and the Vicar was instituted in October, 1875.  The foundation-stone of a permanent building was laid Sept. 8, 1882, which accommodates over 1,000 worshippers.  That part of the future “Oldknow Memorial Church” at present finished, comprising the nave, north aisle, and north transept, with seating for nearly 700 (all free), was consecrated July 28, 1883.  The patronage is vested in trustees, the incumbent’s stipend being L150.

All Saints’, Stechford.—­A temporary church of iron and wood, erected at a cost of L620, to accommodate 320 persons, all seats being free, was dedicated Dec. 18, 1877.

Aston Church.—­It is impossible to fix the date of erection of the first church for the parish of Aston, but that it must have been at a very early period is shown by the entry in the Domesday Book relative to the manor.  The parish itself formerly included Bordesley and Deritend, Nechells and Saltley, Erdington and Witton, Castle Bromwich, Ward End, and Water Orton, an area so extensive that the ecclesiastical income was very considerable.  In Henry III.’s reign the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield received twenty marks yearly out of the fruits of the rectory, the annual value of which was sufficient to furnish L26 13s. 4d. over and above the twenty marks.  Records are in existence showing that the church (which was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul) was considerably enlarged about 300 years after the Conquest, and a renovation was carried out nearly a century back, but the alterations made during the last few years (1878-84) have been so extensive that practically it may be said the edifice has been rebuilt.  The seating capacity of the old church was limited to about 500, but three times that number of persons will, in future, find accommodation, the cost of the extensions and alterations having been nearly L10,000.  The ancient monuments, windows, and tablets have all been carefully replaced in positions corresponding to those they filled formerly, with many additions in the shape of coloured glass, heraldic emblazonments, and chaste carvings in wood and stone.  The old church, for generations past, has been the centre-point of interest with local antiquarians, as it was, in the days far gone, the chosen last resting-place of so many connected with our ancient history—­the Holtes, the Erdingtons, the Devereux, the Ardens, the Harcourts, the Bracebridgss, Clodshalls, Bagots, &c.  Here still may be seen the stone and alabaster effigies of lords and ladies who lived in the time of the Wars of the Roses, two showing by their dress that while one was Lancasterian, the other followed the fortunes