Gas Street Longbridge

St John the Baptist’s Church stands in Longbridge, a Birmingham suburb shaped by its car-making past. Built in the 1950s, it replaced an older parish church as the area grew around the Longbridge plant. The architect G H While designed the building to serve the expanding workforce. Five oak statues line the west window, carved by Robert Pancheri of Bromsgrove. Each figure represents a biblical prophet holding a symbol of their story. The statues are notable for their craftsmanship and detail. The central statue shows John the Baptist with a lamb on an open Bible. Elijah appears with a raven, Isaiah with a branch, Ezekiel with a wheel, and Jeremiah with a scroll. While used this church as a model when he designed St Boniface’s Church in Quinton two years later. The organ came from St Thomas’s in Balsall Heath and was installed in 1958. Inside, the church offers a quiet space with its two-manual organ and simple design. The oak figures catch the light through the west window, creating a calm atmosphere. The building remains a local landmark, still used for worship and community events. Its modern lines contrast with the older churches nearby, marking a shift in Longbridge’s identity.