Heritage & History

The Parochial Church Council is responsible for the care and maintenance of the Grade II* listed Parish Church of St. Alban the Martyr (listed building ID 1290539), a Victorian Gothic masterpiece of architect John Loughborough Pearson. It is also the guardian of the rich history of the parish, from its inception in 1865 as a Mission in an area of newly built poor quality housing and industry on the edge of Birmingham to the present day.

As part of our project "Revealing St. Alban's Hidden Heritage", supported by the National Lottery Heitage Fund thanks to players of The National Lottery, which enabled us to complete the renewal of the Victorian roof and provide improved step-free access, we carried out archival research and expanded the "Heritage" material on this website available throught the Heritage and History sub-menu with more information about both the church building and the history of the church and parish (including the former parish of St Patrick, Balsall Heath and the Church of St Patrick, which stood on Frank Street).

During the Covid-19 pandemic the church has at various times been completely closed, open only for building work, or for socially distanced public worship. During this time we recorded many videos of services, which show the church in use for the purpose for which it was built.

We hope to restart a programme of regular open days for visitors after Easter 2022, when details will be found here: http://www.saintalban.co.uk/Visiting/.

In the meantime, you can follow a virtual tour here: http://www.saintalban.co.uk/heritage/tour/, see 360° views of the interior: http://www.saintalban.co.uk/heritage/360DegreeView/, or if you are near by you could follow our Parish Heritage Trail: http://www.saintalban.co.uk/heritage/trail/.

The Parochial Church Council is a member of Birmingham Heritage Forum: http://www.birminghamheritage.org.uk.