St Matthew's Church

St Matthew’s Church stands in the Duddeston and Nechells district of Birmingham. Built in the early 19th century, it is a Grade II listed parish church of the Church of England. The architect William Thomas of Leamington Spa designed the building. Its foundation stone was laid in October 1839 and it was consecrated a year later by the Bishop of Worcester. It was the first of five churches constructed by the Birmingham Church Building Society. The church has seen several changes over the years. In 1866 J. A. Chatwin added galleries to increase seating. A major restoration took place in 1883. Parts of its parish were split off in 1868 and 1898 to form new churches, but these parishes were reunited when those churches closed in 1951. In 1994 the building was converted into a multi-purpose space with a worship area for 250 people and office and community rooms. Today the worship area at the east end has been repurposed. The remaining parts of the church provide office and community accommodation. The building retains its historic character while serving new local needs. Its simple brick exterior and well-lit interior reflect its origins and later adaptations.