St Barnabas' Church, Birmingham facts for kids

St Barnabas’ Church was a Church of England church located on Ryland Street in Birmingham, England. It was an important building in the local community for over 100 years.

The Church's Beginning

The idea for St Barnabas’ Church started in 1859. The first stone was laid on August 1, 1859. This special event happened on land generously given by Miss Ryland of Barford.

The church was designed by an architect named William Bourne, from Dudley. It was built using Hampstead redstone and decorated with Hollington stone. The building was finished in 1860. It was officially opened and ready for services on October 24, 1860. Building the church cost about £3,000, which was a lot of money back then!

Community and Growth

St Barnabas’ Church was not just a place for worship. It also played a big role in the community. In 1862, the church opened its own schools right next to the main building on Ryland Street. This helped educate many children in the area.

Over time, the church's area of responsibility, called a parish, grew. In 1896, a new parish was created for St Barnabas, taking some land from the nearby St Martin in the Bull Ring church. Then, in 1901, the parish became even larger. It took in part of the area that belonged to Christ Church, Birmingham.

The Church Organ

Inside the church, there was a musical organ. This organ was installed by a company called Bevington. Organs are large musical instruments that use pipes to make sound. They are often found in churches.

End of an Era

After serving the community for many years, St Barnabas’ Church was eventually taken down. The building was demolished in 1966.