St Barnabas has sat proudly on Erdington High Street, as its focal point, since 1823. Designed by Thomas Rickman, an English architect who was a well-known figure in Gothic Revival architecture. St Barnabas was one of the first Commissioners’ churches built in England and it cost £5,000 to build, a £1,000 of which was public donation.

In 2007 the Grade II listed building was very badly damaged in a fire. Only one of its stained-glass windows survived, along with the tower and walls. The church was rebuilt five years later and was reopened in December 2012 with a beautiful, modern new steel roof and glass side extension, which I think compliments the old building very well. The rebuild cost around £5M.