Close to Bishop Challoner's Catholic school lies the church where the Catholics go to prey to the…read moremother of the lord, Mary. The modern building that houses the church has often split opinion within the community. Some see it as a modern concrete mess; others think it is a beautiful place to worship. I like to go with the latter half. The swooping roof is quite eye catching in my opinion and the size of the building is quite big compared to the older Church of England's churches. The atmosphere inside is very holy, I felt guilty that I was an Atheist by just coming here. I guess that is the influence the church has on most people. I have chosen not to convert as a result of the guilt I feel, I just get on with my life. There are many believers out there and I think that they would be proud of this church. They sell rosary beads at a little shop at the entrance of the building, some of the beads are very nice to look at, just like the church itself.

Similar to the Catholic Cathedral in Liverpool, but on a much, much, much smaller scale, this is a…read morefine example of 1960s architecture that pulls off the neat trick of being yards from the Kings Heath High Street but somehow remains out of sight. I'd lived in Kings Heath for nearly a year and had walked passed it many, many times before I noticed it. The only time I've been inside was for a funeral, so it wasn't a happy occasion. The interior matches the functional exterior. Not being a religious man, I can't comment further than that. My friend's family were well looked after, however, and made use of the function room and bar adjacent to the church for the wake. 4 stars for the building, however, as I think it's lovely.

Wow!! The Coventry Cathedral ruins are spectacular. In a way, the bombing highlighted the splendor…read moreof 13th century architecture and when walking around, I kept getting reminded of the Cologne Cathedral, which was built in the same century. I'm so glad the cathedral wasn't torn down, like a lot of destroyed buildings after the war were, but instead this area was left alone, to stand testament to the horrors suffered by this city and its people during WWII. Compared to the old Cathedral, I am not a massive fan of the modernist architecture building of the new cathedral but it sure is much more comfy! I was super lucky to be in town while the "Knife Angel" sculpture was on display in front of the Cathedral in April 2019. I was with a very witty colleague, Adam, and his comment on the sculpture was, "Anyone have a fork?" :-) :-) :-) Similarly when he saw the Archangel Michael & the Devil sculpture in the front of the Cathedral, Adam turned to our group and with his quick wit said, "Smell my foot. No, I insist! I really want you to smell my feet!!" :-) :-) :-) The cathedral is really an interesting place to come and check out, and for me, more than any other landmark, it really personifies Coventry City. Yelp 151/ 2019

Coventry Cathedral, the bombed-out church that fell prey to the first carpet bombing of WWII, is an…read moreimpressive and sobering reminder of the futility of war. As such, it's a mandatory place to visit [I hesitate to call it an "attraction"] in Coventry for a brief time of quiet introspection. The remains have been beautifully preserved, augmented with several works of art that pay tribute to the bombing, but also to the spirit of reconciliation after the war. It's moot to weigh this early carpet bombing against the ones committed by the Allies in the aftermath, them being much more destructive - "He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." The house, in this case, being Europe. And we did learn the lesson - or did we? Anyway, it's a must for any visit to this city.

Quite an unusual choice this, but I wanted to write a few words about St Peters as it is such a…read morelovely spot. A 17th century church, linked to the infant and junior schools nearby, St Peters church and the area around it has a village feel - although only a few minutes away from Harborne High Street you could be fooled into thinking you were in the countryside. The congregation is large at the church with active Scouts and Brownies groups who meet at the adjacent church hall. You might also want to unleash yoru inner goth and take a walk around the graveyard itself which has a number of really rather beautiful headstones and in the spring and summer is awash with wild garlic and bluebells. There is also a lovely pub next door to the Chruch called The Bell, which has a bowling green and brilliant views from the garden.

RIverside Church is a great, friendly, local church that I have been attending pretty much since I…read morearrived in Birmingham 15 years ago. The thing that attracted me to it initially was the fact that it was full of people my age, rather than just being old grannies. Not that there is anything wrong with old grannies - it's just nice to meet people you can connect with who are at a similar life stage to you. It meets in a school (Queensbridge) - which is good for people who are a bit scared of church buildings, but has a building on the Alcester Road in Moseley, which can also be hired out for events, and their performing arts training school runs from there. Riverside has a good outward-looking, community ethos: running various stay & play groups, youth groups, sports groups and courses so there's plenty to get stuck into during the week - it's not all about sitting on pews on Sundays.

One of the most interesting things about a historical city is its churches, with no doubt and…read moreHenley-in-Arden has some important ones! St. john's church is an imposing building placed in the high street and its just impossible not spotting its tower. The original construction is dated from 1367 but this "new" church is from 1448 and inside it has impressive and modern stain glass windows that just highlight the natural built of the church's nave itself. From outside it can be spotted some traces of a 15th century architecture next to this impressive church is also placed the Library of the city. Something really curious is that about 700 yards away is St. Nicholas church, a 1170 construction that is another heritage building to be visited.

Tucked away up Selly Park's side streets on the border of Selly Oak, St Stephen's Church is a bit…read moreof a hidden gem. I chanced upon it whilst trying to find the quickest walking route from Selly Oak to Cannon Hill Park. It's an impressive, if slightly imposing building that's been well maintained.Built in 1871, it remains a good example of it's era. I particularly like the tall grey spire and the the way the trees surround the church in it's graveyard. In terms of denomination and approach, it's a Church of England church with an evangelical outlook , committed to welcoming new comers, including the students that form a large chunk of the local population. If you're a Christian in the area looking for a new church, why not give them a try?

St. Stephens is a lovely church. It somehow remains a bit hidden, despite being a) quite large and…read moreb) in the middle of students-ville practically on the Pershore Road. Its surrounded by trees and a small garden area; which makes it feel more secluded and countrified, albeit in the middle of Selly Oak... I've been to a few weddings here, and they've all gone without hitch. The staff seem to be really welcoming and friendly and the church itself always looks beautiful - inside and out. The entrance is by a side door, which is lovely, as everyone gets to see the bride enter without doing a 180 degrees head turning owl impression.

This is a pretty little church serving the Mere Green flock…read more I was here recently for a memorial service and was taken aback by the serenity and beauty of the interior. With the lights dimmed, and memorial candles ablaze, the church has a truly magical quality. No matter the time of year, it always makes me think of childhood Christmases. The vicar - Bill Moore - is a considered orator and his words are both moving and thought-provoking. What's more, he is entertaining too and takes time to greet each member of the congregation personally! The church has great links with the local community and is especially close to the local primary schools in the area. The church hall is just a few yards away and is used for a variety of community based activities from jumble sales to Zumba!

Despites the natural built of this construction from 12th and 13th century style, I would never…read morethink that my visit to the Coleshill Parish Church, St.Peter and St. Paul would be an unique experience in life. Visiting the area in my trip back from Jubilee's Holiday, I have stopped in the church for taking some photos but surprisingly, because the festivities in the country, its tower was open for visitors for only £1.50. My husband didn't think twice and accepted the challenger for both of us. Not before buying a cake to eat in the top of it. Meaning, 46 degrees of stairs later! Cakes and stairs are not a good combination. I thought the whole experience surreal but I didn't have too much time to think about it and there I was in a very narrow (and very stip) spiral staircase that would lead me to one of the most beautiful views from Birmingham. That was a truly claustrophobic experience to say the least and I probably won't repeat in life, but the view I got from the top of this church worth several times more than the price I have paid to be there! By the way, I didn't eat the cake. I was too shaking and sweating in the end of my stairs marathon to think about it, but when we got the stairs down to the ground again we still have a stop in the middle of it to learn a bit more about the bells of this wonderful landmark. The tower of Coleshill Parish Church was open just for the Jubilee celebrations but you can always check with the nice people from this community if there is another change of visiting it.