Stockland Green Methodist Church
Stockland Green, Birmingham, West Midlands
The length of time that it has stood means it has history surrounding it, including links to many well known names in Aston's history; the Holtes (through the nearby Aston Hall), Ansell (of Ansell's brewery) and even an ancestor or two of William Shakespeare are just a few examples.
The church contains some fine monuments associated with local families. The oldest is the tomb of Ralph Arden, who died 1360) from whom William Shakespeare was a direct descendant. The Erdington family tomb is mid fifteenth century. There are some fine Holte family memorials. In addition, there are some beautiful stained glass windows, some of which date as late as the beginning of the 1930s.
Today, the church is very much the centre of a very diverse community. Its congregation is made up of people from many cultures; European, African and Asian alike.
One feature of the church that has been added more recently is the addition of a new full immersion baptism pool. This pool, designed in the shape of a cross, was added into an extension of the front platform, whilst a ramp was also added to the side of the church in order to make sure that there was wheelchair access to every part of the church. When not in use, the pool is covered by a thick layer of glass, but can still be viewed.