Landmark Heritage Grant Secures Future of Historic Church Roof

St Paul’s Church, a Grade I listed Georgian building at the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, has been awarded £944,012 for a once-in-a-generation roof restoration.

Work is expected to start in January 2027, with around 95% of the roof needing new Westmorland slate, alongside repairs to lead gutters, stonework and windows. It will also enable the church to reduce its energy use and work towards becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030.

Landmark Heritage Grant

The landmark grant is from the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, a UK government scheme administered via Historic England. The Fund aims to save heritage buildings and open them up for the local community.

The project is also being made possible thanks to a local fundraising campaign which saw volunteers, local Jewellery Quarter businesses and church members raise an extra £230,000 for the roof restoration.

Fundraisers included local vicar Revd David Tomlinson completing a 200-mile cycle, a church summer fete, whisky tasting event and community film screening.

Revd David Tomlinson, Vicar of St Paul’s in the Jewellery Quarter, said: “This generous grant, together with the funds raised by our incredible local community, will preserve our iconic, historic and beautiful building for this and future generations.

“It also means that St Paul’s and its grounds can continue to be a place of worship and prayer, concerts, celebrations and community life – a focal point for the Jewellery Quarter and the whole city.

“We are deeply grateful to Historic England, our Raise the Roof campaign team, and to Lizey Thomson at Church of England Birmingham, who have worked tirelessly to secure the funding. We’re now working hard to get ready for works to start in the new year.”

Heritage Asset

St Paul’s Church is Birmingham’s last remaining Georgian church in a Georgian square, making it a heritage asset.

The church’s last major restoration was after the Second World War.

The project will involve people and organisations from across the city, including students from University College Birmingham and people from the Royal Society of Birmingham Artists. Students from Birmingham City University will be designing a commemorative piece of jewellery for the restoration.

The church is expected to remain fully open during the restoration.

Historic England also recently announced that Birmingham Cathedral has been awarded funding of £377,185 towards major work to halt the deterioration of the Cathedral’s tower and dome.

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