History of St Barnabas Church

St Barnabas Church is a remarkable building with a rich history. Originally built as a Chapel of Ease in 1822, it was designed in a Gothic style by Thomas Rickman, a Quaker. The construction, funded by the Right Honorable Richard Penn (Earl Howe), cost approximately £6,000, which is about £430,000 in today’s currency.

As Erdington’s High Street developed, the church stood proudly as a symbol of peace and hope. Charitable donations often funded improvements, such as the Lych Gate, constructed in the 1930s by the Needlework Guild to mark the church's centenary.

The church's first vicar, Rev. Hyla Holden Rose, passed away in August 1887 and is buried near the Lych Gate.

The original chapel was dedicated in November 1920 as a Memorial Chapel to honor the Erdington men who perished in the Great War.

Church Bells

In 1890, eight tubular bells were installed in the tower. However, in 1904, these were replaced by a peal of eight bells, which were refurbished in 1991. The Ryland family donated the bells to St Barnabas in memory of their daughter, Mary Proctor Ryland.

Each bell features a line from a poem that Miss Ryland wrote shortly before her death:

 "Ring on joyous bells never slumber
Let us hear each message you bring
And our hearts to o'erflowing with gladness
Must break into music and sing
Sing praises to God, our Creator
Sing Praises to Jesus, our King
Sing praises to thee, Holy Spirit
Ring on blessed Bells, ever ring."

Tower Clock

In 1897, Sarah Perry gifted the clock in the tower to St Barnabas Church in memory of her husband. Crafted in Handsworth, Birmingham, the clock's faces were refurbished and re-gilded in 2012.

The clock features two faces: one facing the High Street and the other facing the Lych Gate on Church Road. The clock's weights extend from the clock faces down the length of the tower.

Fire of 2007

Tragedy struck on the morning of October 4th, 2007, when a devastating fire ravaged the building of St Barnabas Church. Approximately 75 firefighters and 15 engines from West Midlands Fire Service attended. Most of the interior and contents were destroyed, with only the external walls, the Bell Tower, and one of the original 16 stained glass windows surviving. Despite the uncertain future, the Right Reverend David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham, declared the church would be rebuilt, preserving as many original features as possible.

Rebuilding began in January 2011. The construction work was undertaken by Linfords, who also performed the cleanup of the fire damage in late 2007 and early 2008.

By 2012, the new St Barnabas Church Centre was unveiled, combining a beautiful blend of historical and contemporary elements. The new design, featuring the Harbour café (now St Barnabas Community Hub) and high-quality meeting spaces, earned architectural awards for its excellence.

Architecture

Architectural highlights of the building include statues, stained glass, and distinctive furniture. Above the main internal doors into the church is the ‘Christus Rex’ statue, paired with the ‘Welcoming Christ’ statue located in the rear of the church space. These incredible pieces were made by Coventry sculptor Peter Eugene Ball.

Historically, the church was known for its sixteen stained glass windows depicting scenes of the life of Jesus and stories from the scriptures, including the Raising of Lazarus, The Resurrection, The Good Samaritan and St Paul and St Barnabas. Only one original window was salvaged and restored after the fire. It now sits on the north wall, immediately to the left as you enter the church. Behind the altar is a new window by Pippa Blackall, depicting St Barnabas’ travels through the Mediterranean.

The altar area furniture, designed by Declan O’Donoghue, symbolises resurrection with an empty cross design. The altar itself resembles the boat Jesus was in during the storm on Lake Galilee. The High Altar Reredos, an ornamental screen depicting Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’ carved in alabaster, was saved from the fire and restored to its former glory.

Installed in 2013, the font was crafted by Alex Evans and Zoe Cull from Nabresina stone sourced in Northern Italy, adding another layer of craftsmanship.

Churchyard

The churchyard holds significant historical value due to its war graves. Many men from Erdington who joined the army between 1914 and 1918 are buried here, with 29 World War I graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Additionally, a memorial screen honors eight servicemen whose graves are unmarked. There are also 37 graves honoring service personnel from World War II. Erdington Historical Society has identified another twenty private headstones commemorating those buried abroad or lost at sea.