Birmingham may well be known for its curry houses, and heavy metal and Industrial past, but tucked between the red-brick terraces are hundreds of churches that rise above the busy streets. Now, there are over 180 Anglican and more than 200 Catholic parishes in the city area but we’ve rounded up the most beautiful and historic churches in Birmingham that prove that the city’s history isn’t all music and factories. Spoiler alert — many of them are named after saints.
1. St. Philip’s Cathedral
Also called the Birmingham Cathedral, this Church of England Cathedral was initially built as a parish church by architect Thomas Archer. It carries the name of Apostle Philip and simultaneously, its benefactor Robert Philips, who donated his land for the construction of the cathedral. One of its most prized possessions are the four stained-glass windows by Edward Burne-Jones, which you can visit daily for free. Besides these features created by the Pre-Raphaelite artist, visitors can also enjoy regular Candlelight concerts that transform this historic place into an otherworldly setting.
📍Cathedral Square, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QB
2. St. Chad’s
Located on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter, St. Chad’s is the first Catholic Cathedral erected in Great Britain in 1841 following the Reformation. It is dedicated to Saint Chad of Mercia, a renowned 7th-century Anglo-Saxon monk who is credited with introducing Christianity to the Mercian kingdom and whose relics lie in a shrine above the High Altar. St. Chad’s is open daily but history buffs can visit the cathedral for Heritage Tours scheduled during September to also explore parts that aren’t usually open to the public.
📍3540 St. Chads Queensway, Birmingham B4 6EU
3. The Oratory Birmingham
Perhaps one of the most beautiful churches in Birmingham, The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri will be of particular interest for Tolkien and Lord of the Rings fans as it is featured in many Tolkien tours. As it turns out, J. R. R. Tolkien and his brother briefly lived there, as after their mother’s death, they were placed under the guardianship of Father Francis of the Birmingham Oratory.
Still, there’s so much more to see and learn about this spot. Founded by Saint John Henry Newman, the current church was designed by Edward Doran Webb in Baroque style. It has a long history of promoting education and music, and boasts an intricate Nicholson organ used for for plainsong and hymnal music. You can visit The Oratory for free during Birmingham Heritage Week.
📍141 Hagley Rd, Birmingham B16 8UE
4. St. Mary’s Church Moseley
A visit to the Parish of Moseley is basically exploring two churches — St. Anne’s and St. Mary’s — in one parish because they formed a United Benefice in 2007 and the rest was history. St Mary’s is said to have been founded 600 years ago, starting as a chapel and growing into a parish due to the increasing Moseley (originally in Worcestershire) and Birmingham population.
The Grade II listed building has undergone many restorations and additions, featuring a mainly Gothic Revival architecture and a cherished organ dating from 1887 by Henry Jones. If you’re looking for interesting things to do in Moseley, also check out the War Memorial in the South-East corner of the Churchyard commemorating the dead of the First World War, which depicts Christ upon the cross in carved stone.
📍25 St. Mary’s Row, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8HW
5. St. Martin in the Bull Ring
St. Martin’s is the original parish church of Birmingham. It stands between the Bull Ring Shopping Centre, The Birmingham Bull and the markets. One of the oldest churches in the city, the Victorian style building was designed by J. A. Chatwin and constructed on the site of its 13th-century forerunner in Grinshill stone. What’s truly special are the Burne-Jones stained glass window found in the south transept, the bell ringing chamber that houses a total 16 bells, and the newest pipe organ by Harrison & Harrison.
📍 Edgbaston St, Birmingham B5 5BB
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6. Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Dormition of Theotokos & St. Andrews
We have another J. A. Chatwin cathedral in our midst, but this time around it is of Orthodox faith. The Cathedral Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God and St. Andrew is a robust-looking building on Summer Hill Terrace, created for the Catholic Apostolic Church of Irvingites but turned Orthodox to cater to the large number of Greek Cypriots migrants. This brick Gothic Revival church in the Early English style boasts heavy brick arches, a rectangular nave and decorations by Gibbs and Canning of Tamworth, and even offers language classes if you want to learn Greek!
📍8 Arthur Pl, Birmingham B1 3DA
7. St. Paul’s Church
This Grade I listed church was built between 1777 and 1779 in Georgian and Neo Classical style, heavily influenced by St Martin in the Fields. Much of its roof was damaged during the Second World War bombings, and later restored after the war. The church is open to visitors Mondays and Wednesdays. If not to see its Francis Eginton painted glass window showcasing the conversion of St. Paul, check out St. Paul’s Church’s Candlelight concerts that recreate your favourite music in an enchanting setting.
📍 St Paul’s Square, Birmingham B3 1QZ
8. Aston Parish Church
Technically, it’s called The Parish Church of SS Peter & Paul but Aston Parish Church just rolls off the tongue. It was built on the site of an 1120-year church in Aston recorded in the Domesday Book, then the second largest in the West Midlands after Coventry Cathedra. Architecture fans might appreciate its imposing Perpendicular Gothic west tower and spire built in 1420, whereas literature buffs may want to learn more about the 14th-century tomb of Ralph Arden — direct ancestor of William Shakespeare.
📍 Witton Ln, Birmingham B6 6QA
9. St Germain’s
Another Grade II listed church in Birmingham, St Germain’s was designed by Brummie architect Edwin Francis Reynolds, completed during the First World War. It boasts a red-brick façade with Hollington stone dressings. This Church of England parish church also houses a pipe organ by Rushworth and Dreaper dating from 1922. If you find yourself in Edgbaston strolling around the Winterbourne House and Garden, do pay a visit to St. Germain’s Church as well, as it’s only a 10-minute drive from the landmark.
📍City Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B17 8LE
10. Encounter Church
This last church in the city is not known by many. Formerly Selly Oak Elim Church, Encounter Church originated during Birmingham’s Pentecostal Revival of the 1930s in the Elim movement. The building itself began its journey as St. Wulstan’s (Church of England), but in the ’80s the Church of England parish merged nearby and the Exeter Road building came into Elim use. You can’t pass by and not stop to appreciate the early-1900s red-brick façade typical of Edwardian ecclesiastical architecture.
📍Exeter Rd, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6EU