Take in the beauty of this city-centre church’s design during the day, and come back in the evening to enjoy a show.
St Paul’s Church is a place of worship of the Church of England, and was consecrated in 1779. Nowadays, while continuing its role as a religious site, it has expanded and become a venue for live music performances, screenings of classics from the golden age of Hollywood, and numerous other events.
Design lovers will particularly adore two of the stained-glass windows here: Francis Eginton made a superb reproduction of Benjamin West’s alterpiece “The Conversion of St Paul”, while the Millennium Window depicts angels emptying liquid metal from a crucible – a biblical symbol for the millennium.
The church also contains one of the biggest bell rings in the world, with 10 bells in total the tenor weighs in at 641 kilogrammes. They create a clamorous noise, and are rung three times on Sundays.
St Paul’s is also a wonderful music venue, playing host to free organ recitals on the first Thursday of every month and Christmas concerts, and it has also hosted the British Jazz Awards. Film showings of classic movies from yesteryear are also a big favourite.
When you’ve finished your visit, there’s a wide choice of eateries and chic cafés on this Georgian square. If you prefer your music a bit louder, then The Jam House music venue here is good option – it has hosted artists as diverse as indie legends Ocean Colour Scene and soul singer Jaki Graham.
St Paul’s Church is just 10 minutes’ walk from the heart of Birmingham, and St Paul’s Metro station is nearby. There is also pay parking available. The church is open from Tuesday to Saturday, and entry is free of charge. Check the website for the timings of services, Sunday evensong (evening prayer service), concerts and film screenings.
