About Carrs Lane

Foyer Link, and Cross beyond

The Lounge

Third Chapel Interior

Wesley Owen Books & Music

Carrs Lane Church meets right in the centre of Birmingham. We are Christians of varying ages and backgrounds, worshipping in the tradition of the United Reformed Church. Some of us can be seen at the top of this and other pages, and you can read about our various activities in other sections of the website.

Our Vision & Plans - Current Developments

This is an exciting time for us: plans are being implemented to sustain and develop the mission of this strategic city centre church over the next few decades.
Whilst we still offer attractive, realistically-priced rooms for those needing a convenient venue in central Birmingham, we are also drawing the Christian nature of what we do into far sharper focus:
- a residential Christian Community has been established here,
with a full-time leader
- new mid-week congregations are being built up
- the ministry of prayer is being developed further
- possibilities for a genuinely holistic ministry are being explored.
- in 2009 we began talks on closer co-operation with the Birmingham Methodist Central Mission.

See Our Vision and Plans for the full story.

Church History

There has been a worshipping community in Carrs Lane since 1748. From 1832 the church belonged to the newly-formed Congregational Union, which became part of the United Reformed Church in 1972. In its history it has been influential both in Birmingham, and in national church affairs. The current building is the fourth to stand on the site.

Read about Carrs Lane's fascinating Church History

Wider Church Links

Carrs Lane Church has formal links with other United Reformed Churches through the West Midlands Synod of the URC, and with other Birmingham churches through Believing in Birmingham - the Central Birmingham Christian Partnership, and Birmingham Churches Together.

See Wider Church Links for details.

The Church Centre

Room Hire and Conference Facilities

Apart from housing all the church activities, the Church Centre exists to serve the people of Birmingham and beyond.

A wide variety of organisations from across the city and across the country use the premises. Some are religious; Christians of many denominations (it is frequently used for ecumenical events) and those of other faiths. Others are self-help groups, civic and community organisations, and political, business and other interests.

The rooms are used for services, talks, training, music, committees etc. Buffets and refreshments can be arranged for those using the facilities. For more information see the Room Hire section.

Find out more about The Church Centre, and how it is run.

Opening Hours

Carrs Lane Church Centre is open to the public on Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 5.30;
and for booked meetings only, on Monday to Friday evenings;
and for church services on Sunday as advertised.

The Quiet Room off the Main Foyer is available, at nearly all times the Centre is open, to anyone who wishes to use it for prayer or meditation.

The Building

The present Carrs Lane Church Centre was completed in 1970. Built of engineering bricks to reflect the industrial city, the austere but dramatic exterior hides a welcoming bright and comfortable interior.

Find out more about The Building (and some of its interesting contents).

Some Centre Tenants

The Church Centre originally included 12 flats built to house student married couples from overseas, which, although important at the time, are no longer needed for this purpose.

Now a number of independent organisations, with an emphasis on serving the community, are based in the former flats and elsewhere in the Centre. The building also houses a large bookshop, part of the Wesley Owen Books & Music national chain of Christian bookshops.

About this Website

This website, which replaced our original one launched in 2003, was professionally developed in 2008 by Dave Gray, Website Development Officer of Birmingham Voluntary Service Council. It uses Version 3 of the popular free Content Management System, Plone. The content was created, and continues to be developed and maintained, by members of Carrs Lane URC and Centre staff.

Website Manager: Michael Richer

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