St Barnabas' Church, Erdington

St Barnabas’ Church stands on Erdington High Street in north Birmingham. Built between 1822 and 1823, it is a Grade II listed Church of England parish church designed by Thomas Rickman. The church once held sixteen Rickman-designed stained glass windows, each showing scenes from the life of Jesus and scripture. A major fire in October 2007 destroyed the roof and all but one of these windows, though the walls, clock and bell tower remained. Rebuilding began in 2011 and the church was rededicated in December 2012 by the Bishop of Birmingham. The churchyard contains war graves for 66 service personnel from the two world wars. The church is notable for its ring of eight bells and for the clergy who served there. Jeremy Sheehy, later Principal of St Stephen’s House, Oxford, began his curacy here in 1981. Rodney Whiteman, who later became Archdeacon of Bodmin and of Cornwall, served as vicar from 1979 to 1989. The Reverend Emma Sykes has been vicar since May 2020. The building’s history reflects both public generosity and civic effort, with £1,000 raised by donations towards its original £5,000 cost. Inside, visitors find a restored interior with plain walls and modern fittings alongside surviving historic fabric. The single remaining Rickman window still tells its story of faith and craftsmanship. The church’s clock and bell tower rise above the High Street, marking the centre of Erdington. Outside, the war graves and Screen Wall memorial recall the sacrifice of local service personnel. The building’s resilience after fire and its continuing role as a place of worship give it quiet strength in the heart of the community.