The Cotteridge Church

The Cotteridge Church is an Anglican, Methodist and United Reformed Church Local Ecumenical Project in South Birmingham and is a busy seven day a week church well known in the area as the heart of the community.

It began life as St Agnes church and was a simple church room, when it was licensed as a mission of St Nicholas church in King's Norton in 1898. In 1902 work started on a new building to designs by the architects Cossins, Peacock and Bewlay and in 1903 the new church was consecrated. This early church, along with the United Reformed Church, were demolished for the construction of a supermarket and residential properties for elderly people. They merged with the Methodist church whose buildings were extended and still stands at the end of the Pershore Road. The church is now known as The Cotteridge Church.

The busy cafe Cotteridge Church Cafe is a centre for outreach in the community, external groups and organisations. Open six days a week and staffed entirely by volunteers, it provides hot meals and snacks. This is a vital part of church work and visibility in the community, offering welcome and sustenance of all kinds to everyone who comes through our doors. The church also has an Older Adults Centre, which cares for elderly folk by providing a range of daily activities, promoting independence and well being.

A large number of people cross the threshold for a variety of reasons and the desire to feed them not only physically but spiritually, in encouraging them to take steps of faith, is strong. The B30 Food Bank in conjunction with The Trussell Trust is a vital part of outreach. Volunteers from Churches Together in B30 and from the community work together feeding people referred to the Food Bank by outside agencies.

A recent venture is the introduction of Saplings, a stay and play group for preschool children which has bought in many new local families. Together with the Boys Brigade, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers, all ages are catered for.