The parish of St Agatha, Sparkbrook and St Barnabas, Balsall Heath is a Forward in Faith parish. To find out more click here

Witness and Social Action

There is interface between the Parish and our 2 churches on various levels. Firstly they are spiritual "power-houses", praying constantly and offering the sacrifice of the Mass for the whole population and for members of our congregation.

St Barnabas is in the middle of the residential and Balti area, St Agathas is prominent on a a main arterial road into the City (A34/41). Secondly, our worshipping congregations are a vibrant Christian presence in a predominantly Muslim community, as are also our two church buildings. St Agatha's also stands as un undeniable witness to the many thousands who daily pass in and out of the city.

Thirdly there is a long tradition of social action within Anglo-Catholicism, applied to our parish. For example, in St Agatha's Hall there is our boxing club (sponsored by the City of Birmingham Amatauer Boxing Club/Federation of Boys Clubs/Amateur Boxing Association). This is the only multi-ethnic (as opposed to mono-ethnic) youth facility in the parish, providing not only physical training facilties but access to a range of socially educative programmes (including drug awareness and anti-car crime). Also, the St Barnabas Hall complex is being used as a key resource in the Balsall Heath SureStart program.