Our Lady Help of Christians Church

Our Lady Help of Christians is a Grade II* listed Catholic church in Tile Cross, Birmingham. It was designed by Richard Gilbert Scott and built in 1966–67. The church stands near Our Lady’s Catholic Primary School. Richard Gilbert Scott was the son of the well-known architect Giles Gilbert Scott. The building follows a T-shaped plan with a forward altar. Above the altar, curved concrete trusses support the roof, clad in copper. The church reflects ideas from De Sacra Liturgia of 1963 and Catholic Church guidelines from 1964. It is more than a simple place of worship, blending architecture, engineering and art. The stained glass inside was created by John Chrestien. The building also appeared in the book *100 Buildings, 100 Years*, published by the Twentieth Century Society in 2014. Inside, a Rowntree & Brennan II Box Organ from 1975 can be found. The space is designed to place the congregation close to the altar. The copper-clad roof and concrete trusses create a striking visual effect. The church remains an active place of worship with Sunday masses. Its thoughtful design makes it a notable example of mid-20th-century church architecture.