Church of Saint Peter, Sutton Coldfield

The Church of Saint Peter stands on Maney Hill Road in Maney, part of Sutton Coldfield in the north of Birmingham. It is a Church of England parish church in the Diocese of Birmingham, and a Grade II listed building with an Arts and Crafts interior.

When was St Peter's built?

The foundation stone was laid in 1904 by Lord Leigh, and the building was completed in 1905. The church was consecrated in June 1905 by Bishop Charles Gore, only about two weeks after the Diocese of Birmingham had been formed. That timing makes it one of the early churches of the new diocese, and a useful marker of how the area grew at the start of the twentieth century.

The church's own heritage material also refers to an earlier "Iron church" as a stage in the congregation's history. The sources consulted give no dates for it, so it is best treated as a pointer to the parish's modest beginnings rather than a documented chapter.

Who designed it?

The architects were Cossins, Peacock and Bewley, a Birmingham practice, and the builder was Thomas Elvins. The original church of 1905 was not the final form. In 1935 the western end of the nave and aisles was extended and the tower was added, so the building seen today combines two campaigns of work, about three decades apart.

What is there to see inside?

The interior is in the Arts and Crafts style, which favours handcraft, honest materials and careful detail. The stained glass is by Sidney Harold Meteyard, an artist associated with the "Birmingham Group" of Arts and Crafts painters and designers. For visitors interested in the decorative arts of the Midlands, the windows are the main reason to step inside.

Is it listed?

Yes. Historic England listed the church at Grade II on 4 March 1999, recognising its architectural and historic interest. The neighbouring St Peter's Vicarage, built in 1911-12 to designs by C. E. Bateman, is also Grade II listed, so the church and its vicarage form a small, well-protected group.

Visiting tips

• The church is an active place of worship, so check service times before a visit and be considerate during services.
• It sometimes opens to the public during Heritage Open Days and Birmingham Heritage Week, when visitors can see the interior and learn about its history.
• It suits a short architecture stop combined with a walk around Maney and Sutton Coldfield.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Church of Saint Peter in Sutton Coldfield? On Maney Hill Road, in the Maney area of Sutton Coldfield, within the city of Birmingham.

When was it consecrated? In June 1905, by Bishop Charles Gore.

Who made the stained glass? Sidney Harold Meteyard, of the Birmingham Group.

Is the church listed? Yes, Grade II, since 4 March 1999.

Is it the same as the Church of Saint Peter near Antakya? No. That is a different, much older cave church in Turkey; this one is a twentieth-century parish church in England.