ST JOHN'S RESTORATION APPEAL
St John's Sparkhill is a multi-cultural community following Jesus, and Sparkhill's Parish Church, built as an evangelical church in 1880 and continuing in that tradition today. We have a usual Sunday congregation of around 75; we have the joy of being joined by an increasing number of new immigrants, from all walks of life. Find out more at:
www.stjohnsparkhill.org.uk
The building is also home to the charitable company, Narthex Sparkhill, which manages the community spaces and encourages cohesion through education, social action and children's work.
Sparkhill is a deprived inner city parish in Birmingham with the 2nd largest number of Muslim residents of any parish in the UK. It is classed as an urban priority area (UPA). These factors mean that as a church we do not, have the financial support of the local community that would be usual for a parish church.
Our building, designed by the noted Birmingham architects Martin & Chamberlain, was built in 1882. It is grade II listed primarily for its unusual vast undivided low-church preaching space. It still has its original roof despite Sparkhill being the most heavily bombed part of Birmingham in WW2. However this roof is now falling apart and urgently needs replacing at a staggering estimated cost of £500,000. Our heart is to continue blessing the local community as a witness to God's goodness, included in this is our intention to redevelop the building for further community use, while keeping a worship centre at its core. Please will you help us to do this by making a donation to our restoration appeal?
