Churches

Allen Memorial United Reformed

Newton Road Great Barr, B43 5AZ

On the 25th December 2017 the last service was held at the church. The cost of repairs to the building was too great and the sad decision to close was taken.

More information is available at https://greatbarr.wordpress.com and a history is available at

https://newtonroadurchistory.wordpress.com

The original building was situated on the opposite corner of the Hamstead Rd and Newton Road junction where the current church stands. The church was sold to the Congregationalists in 1823 and is believed to have been rebuilt as a Weslyan chapel in the late 1860's.

1890 Map with location of Allen memorial church

In 1917 it was re-opened as a Congregational church due to the efforts of a Miss Powell.

Church on Newton Road c.1920?

This was replaced in 1932 by the current building shown below, which was constructed opposite the original church by Miss Powells nephews, Frank, Tom and Harry Allen in memory of their mother Elizabeth Mary Allen. The building was designed by Albert Bye of West Bromwich. This is thought to be the first all-electric church in the district with electric heating, lighting, cookers and water-heating.

Early Churches

The original main church of the Hamstead area was the iron mission church of St. Pauls which was on the corner of Hamstead Road and Spouthouse Lane . This small church was built in 1865 and was intended to last no longer than eleven years.