Church of St. Edmund, Dudley

The Church of Saint Edmund is a Grade II* listed Anglo-Catholic parish church on Castle Street in the town of Dudley in the West Midlands County of England. It is known locally as "Bottom Church", as opposed to St Thomas's parish church in High Street which is known as "Top Church". The dedication is to the Anglo-Saxon King and Martyr, Edmund indicating the original church dated from the Anglo-Saxon period. Since Edmund died in 869 or 870 then the church must date from after this time, although there are no references to the church before the twelfth century. At the front of the present church are two sculptures showing a metal crown pierced by arrows – referring to the martyrdom of Edmund. In 1190, it was noted as being within the possession of Dudley Priory. In 1646, during the English Civil War, Colonel Leveson ordered the demolition of the church. As a result, residents in the parish congregated at St. Thomas's Church in Dudley, which was repaired, and the parishes united. St. Edmund's Church was subsequently rebuilt and was completed circa 1724. The reconstruction of the church was paid for by brothers Richard and George Bradley and by subscriptions from the parishioners. It was built of red brick with stone dressings and consisted of a chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled west tower. The tradition of the church is Anglo-Catholic.