St. Barnabas' Church, Erdington

Parish church
name = St. Barnabas' Church, Erdington


caption = St. Barnabas' Church, Erdington
dedication = St. Barnabas
denomination = Church of England
tradition = Broad Church
parish = Erdington
deanery =
archdeaconry =
diocese = Birmingham
province = Canterbury
canon =
priest =
vicar =
vicar1 =
rector = Revd Freda Evans
curate = Revd Phillip Zaidi-Crosse
curate1 =
minister =
assistant =
honpriest =
deacon =
pastor =
organistdom =
organist =
organis1 =
website = [http://www.erdington-team-ministry.org.uk/ www.erdington-team-ministry.org.uk]
coordinates =

St. Barnabas' Church is the parish church of Erdington, in the north of Birmingham, England.

Background

It is located on the High Street, in the main shopping centre area of Erdington, and is a Grade II listed building. [IoEentry|217292|Listing on Images of England] The vicar is the Reverend Freda Evans, inducted on June 19 2008. [Cite web|url=http://www.erdington-team-ministry.org.uk/stb/st_barnabas_main_page.htm|title=Erdington Team Ministry|date=2008-06-19|accessdate=2008-07-23]

History

The church was built as a chapel of ease between 1822-23 to a design by Thomas Rickman. [cite book|author=John Betjeman|title=An American's Guide to English Parish Churches|year=1959|publisher=McDowell, Obolensky] [cite book|author=A. W. Skempton|coauthors=Institution of Civil Engineers Staff|title=A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland|year=2002|publisher=Thomas Telford] The church was famous for its eight 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, which were also designed by Thomas Rickman.News story in Birmingham Mail, 4 October 2007] It was consecrated on July 23, 1824. [Cite book|author=Walter Powell|coauthors=Herbert Maurice Cashmore|title=A Catalogue of the Birmingham Collection|year=1918|publisher=Cornish Brothers Ltd.] The church was built by the Commissioners at a cost of £5,000, £1,000 of which was collected through public donations. [cite book|author=Francis White|title=History, gazetteer, and directory, of Warwickshire|year=1850|publisher=F. White] In 1858, a district chapelry was assigned to the church. [cite book|author=London Gazette|title=Bulletins and Other State Intelligence|year=1860]

Fire

On the morning of 4 October 2007, the building was severely damaged by fire. West Midlands Fire Service were called to a fire at the church at 6am. Approximately 75 firefighters and 15 engines attended the fire. [ [http://www.erdington-team-ministry.org.uk/stb/st_barnabas_main_page.htm Erdington Team Ministry: Saint Barnabas] ] The roof and stained glass windows were completely destroyed, though the clock tower and walls remain intact. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7027313.stm BBC News story about fire] ] The Rt Revd. David Urquhart, Bishop of Birmingham, stated he was determined to rebuild the church. [ [http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/video/videos/tm_headline=church-fire%26method=full%26objectid=19897289%26siteid=50002-name_page.html Birmingham Mail on-line news and video footage] ] It is believed that the fire was caused by arsonists. [http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_headline=arson-suspected-as-blaze-wrecks-church&method=full&objectid=19902070&siteid=50002-name_page.html "Arson suspected as blaze wrecks church"] ."Birmingham Post". 5 October 2007] It has been announced that future church services will continue at a local school. On the 4th October 2008 a service will be held in the grounds of the church to mark the 1st Anniversary of the fire. There will be photos shown for when the church was on fire to the work going on in the church.

Temporary accommodation

St Barnabas Church is currently operating from Erdington Baptist Church, Wood End Road, Erdington. All weekday services and Sunday 8:30 service will be held here, the Sunday 10am Eucharist will continue to be held at St Barnabas Church School, Spring Lane, Erdington.

ee also

*Erdington Abbey

References

* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/erdingtonhistory Birmingham City Council - The History of Erdington]