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# Lichfield architecture company wins award for £5million church restoration
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/lichfield-architecture-company-wins-award-for-5million-church-restoration/
- Published: 2014-02-26T12:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2014-02-26T12:37:47.000Z
- Author: Chris Quinn
- Tags: Business, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 20:48, News

A Lichfield architecture company has won a design award for its work to on a £5m project to restore a Birmingham church after it was destroyed by an arson attack.

The 1822 Grade II listed St Barnabas Church in Erdington was gutted in the blaze in October 2007.

The fire caused irreparable damage to the 1893 timber roof, with only the west bell tower surviving, and took seven months to remove unsafe remains and stabilise the structure.

[![St Barnabas Church in Erdington](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e3/90/e390c3da-0866-4d2a-8ffe-ca4999d7ce1c/content/images/lichfieldlive-co-uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/bhb-architects-st-barnabas-erdington-ext-day-pic1.jpg)](//lichfieldlive.co.uk/2014/02/27/lichfield-architecture-company-wins-award-for-5million-church-restoration/bhb-architects-st-barnabas-erdington-ext-day-pic1/)

St Barnabas Church in Erdington

But the church has now risen from the ashes after work by [Brownhill Hayward Brown Architects](http://www.bhbarchitects.co.uk/?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk) – an effort which saw them win at the South Staffordshire Partnership Design Awards.

Director Andrew Hayward said: “Extensions to historic buildings are particularly challenging at the best of times. When a fair proportion of the historic fabric has been destroyed by fire, the challenge is multiplied.

“While the fire was a disaster, it was also seen as an opportunity to improve the former building and, by integrating new structure and facilities, bring St Barnabas into the 21st Century.

“The project gave us the chance to marry contemporary designs with the historic values of the church. What is important is that it remained a good neighbour to the area, particularly as it is located on a busy high street. The work has enhanced the church’s bond with locals and made it more widely accessible for all.

“We are thrilled to have been recognised for the quality of our design work.”

After consultation with members of the church, the company were able to keep the majority of the original shell as well as cleaning and repointing the stonework to ensure St Barnabas was still recognisable as the old building.

A fully-glazed extension was built to accommodate a café space and grant easier access from a new entrance, allowing views into the building. The destroyed sanctuary steps were replaced by a new circular dais and a new larger chapel is sited to the north of the chancel.