Listen to live music, watch classic movies and admire an 18th-century stained-glass window at this church in central Birmingham.
Visit St. Paul’s Church to listen to organ recitals and jazz musicians, watch classic Hollywood movies, and admire stained-glass windows. The church, which belongs to a Church of England diocese, was consecrated in 1779 and today sits in Birmingham’s sole surviving Georgian square, in the Jewellery Quarter. Local businessman Matthew Boulton and Scottish engineer James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine, formerly owned pews here.
Art enthusiasts will appreciate two notable stained-glass windows. English artist Francis Eginton made the East Window in 1791. It’s a reproduction of the altarpiece The Conversion of St. Paul by Benjamin West. Check out the angels emptying liquid metal from a crucible on the Millennium Window.
St Paul’s has one of the largest ring of bells in the world, with 10 bells in total. The tenor weighs 1,413 pounds (641 kilograms). Come on a Sunday, when the bells are rung three times a day.
Live music is a big feature of St. Paul’s Church. Free organ recitals take place on the first Thursday of every month. There are also regular film screenings of classic movies. Check the church’s official website for recital and movie times and prices, plus details of other events, including Christmas concerts and the British Jazz Awards.
Surrounding the church is a square where you’ll find an assortment of restaurants and cafés. Among these is The Jam House, a popular concert venue that has hosted performers such as soul singer Jaki Graham and indie-rock band Ocean Colour Scene.
St. Paul’s Church is a 10-minute walk from Birmingham’s city centre. Pay-and-display parking is available nearby. The nearest train stations are Snow Hill or Jewellery Quarter, both a 10-minute walk from the church. There’s also a nearby Metro stop, St. Paul’s.
The church is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Admission is free. Check the official St. Paul’s Church website for details of services and Sunday evensong.
