Churchyard 

The churchyard is a cherished part of our Church Centre and a tranquil green space on the High Street. It serves as a place of reflection and remembrance for all who visit. Rich in history, the churchyard is not only a resting place for those who have passed but also a symbol of continuity and peace within our community.

Within the churchyard are scattered war graves honoring 66 service personnel - 29 from World War I and 37 from World War II. A Screen Wall memorial commemorates those buried in the older sections of the churchyard whose graves could not be individually marked.

Graves, Memorials, and Grave Marker Stones

For enquiries regarding specific graves, please contact our Parish Facilitator, Jackie, at info@stbarnabaserdington.org.uk. We will make every effort to assist you in locating graves and providing any basic, available information.

Please note that any additional research, especially through the Diocese, incurs an administrative fee of £31 per hour, as per the guidelines set by the Church of England’s General Synod and Parliament.

Churchyard Maintenance and Restoration Plans

We are fortunate to receive support from Birmingham City Council in maintaining a substantial portion of the churchyard, including regular grass cutting and pathway maintenance. However, a considerable section of the churchyard remains in a deteriorated and hazardous condition. The subsidence of the land beneath the overgrowth poses safety risks and restricts access to certain graves.

Addressing these issues requires more than just trimming the grass; the land needs to be restored to a safe condition, which will be a costly endeavor. Our priority is to respect the graves and remains, meaning we must carefully plan and execute the work without rushing.

We are currently seeking funding support to help restore the churchyard and will also engage in extensive fundraising efforts.

Churchyard Working Group

In September 2024, we launched the St Barnabas Churchyard Working Group. At our first meeting, local residents, members of St Barnabas Church, a Forest School practitioner, and local councillors came together to discuss the future of the churchyard. There was lots of enthusiasm, and many ideas were shared. You can see some of the great ideas from our community below:

We are now preparing to launch small-scale maintenance projects to enhance the space. These include litter picking, clearing overgrown areas, edging lawns, weeding pathways, and planting bulbs. The churchyard is a vast area, and the more people who join us, the bigger the impact we can make together.

We are especially grateful to Specsavers on Erdington High Street for their generous donation and support, allowing us to provide hi-visibility jackets for our volunteers.

The next meeting will take place on Saturday 16th November, from 10am to 12pm. Please ensure that you wear suitable clothing and footwear, considering the weather! We will provide all equipment and PPE. If you are interested in volunteering and making a meaningful impact, we invite you to join us. Contact Steve at: opsmanager@stbarnabaserdington.org.uk to express your interest or just turn up on the day!

We appreciate the increasing support from the community and various organisations dedicated to restoring the churchyard. Groups such as Erdington Litter Busters have been instrumental in maintaining cleanliness, and individuals such as Bob and Sandra from the Erdington Historical Society have provided invaluable assistance by digitally cataloging accessible graves, aiding in the identification and location of gravesites.

We extend our gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the restoration efforts and to those who have inquired about graves in the affected areas for their understanding and cooperation. We are committed to addressing these concerns with due diligence.

February 2022 - A Message from Revd Emma Sykes:

"The restoration of the churchyard has been a challenging process, and our progress has been slower than anticipated. However, we are pleased to report that we are now making headway. The Birmingham Diocese has assigned Ian Simpson, their Historic Places of Worship Support Officer, to assist us with this significant project. Alongside Adrian Spray, the original designer of the churchyard plan, and with the support of our PCC, we have commenced the application process for funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. While this process may take 12 to 18 months, a successful application would provide the resources needed to not only ensure the safety of the churchyard but also transform it into a space that honors war graves, preserves historical significance, and offers an ecologically diverse sanctuary for the community. Concurrently, we are conducting an extensive topological survey to understand the causes of ground instability and to develop effective restoration strategies. This survey is expected to be completed in the coming months, allowing us to present a detailed restoration plan. The churchyard is an integral part of our community in Erdington, and we deeply appreciate the ongoing interest and support from all involved."

Please be advised that during the restoration process, we aim to preserve all intact and inscribed markers and headstones on-site. However, some may need to be relocated for safety reasons.