‘Time is not on our side’ - Campaigners on urgent appeal to save Jewellery Quarter landmark St Paul’s Church

Those battling to save one of Birmingham’s most famous buildings have set a 250 day deadline to raise the £660,000 needed for urgent roof repairs. 

And they have issued a rallying cry to Jewellery Quarter businesses and residents, urging them to dig deep to prevent St Paul’s Church suffering “catastrophic” damage. 

Their ‘Raise the Roof’ appeal is rapidly gaining momentum, with posters now appearing around the city, Mayor Andy Street making a video appeal and fundraisers already being staged. 

A band of 20 ‘ambassadors’ are being recruited to take the cash plea to doorsteps. But there’s a long way to go, with the fighting fund currently standing at £60,000. Three key members of the campaign committee – Hamraj Kang, senior partner at Kangs Solicitors, Jilly Cosgrove and Ruth Green, both of Barques marketing agency – have told BirminghamWorld time is not on the side of St Paul’s, a church consecrated in 1779. 

Hamraj said: “My fear is we will have a ruin like Kenilworth Castle in the heart of our city. We have a number of businesses that have contributed £1,000 and if 600 gave £1,000, we are there. There are 4,000 businesses in the Jewellery Quarter alone. It’s not about religion,” he stressed.

“We need to remove the religious connotation away from it because St Paul’s doors are open to everyone. There are many, many people who walk through that square, who have the use of that square. Hundreds of people will sunbathe there in the summer. Birmingham has one Georgian Square and if we can’t look after it, it’s a sad indictment of the city.” 

He added: “A couple of people have said, ‘who doesn’t the Church of England put its hand in its pocket? The reality is this church is self-funding – there is no money from the Church of England.” 

Amazing historic facts about St Paul's Church in the Jewellery Quarter & how you can help

The church contains some of the last box pews and the worshippers who used them included James Watt and Matthew Boulton. Losing those would be a heritage disaster. St Paul’s has been sketched by Joseph Mallord William Turner and Mendelssohn conducted there.  

Ruth and Jilly told of concerts disrupted by the sound of water rushing into the build and the over-powering stench of damp in some areas. “If it has to go through another winter, the water will start coming in again and it will be catastrophic,” said Ruth. “It is crucial we get the work done in the timescale. It is not an option. We will get to the stage where it cannot be used.” If you can help, go to: Save St Paul's Church Raise the Roof campaign