A ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on a new Sparkbrook Church which replaces one seriously damaged in the tornado of 2005.

Bishop Andrew Watson, Bishop of Aston, conducted the ceremony marking the start of work on the church by Mansell.

The original Christ Church in Sparkbrook, consecrated in 1867, was badly damaged by a 130 mph tornado which ripped through parts of Birmingham seven years ago. The church had to be demolished, but now work is well under way on a replacement.

-- Advertisement --

The ceremony was watched by representatives of Mansell, local LIFT company BaS LIFT and their developer partner Prime, Mott MacDonald and One Creative Environments Ltd, as well as the priest in charge of Christ Church the Rev Cannon Steve Simcox and curate, the Rev Richard Sudworth.

As well as the new church the £7.3 million Mansell project includes a three-storey community and health centre which has recently been completed. The new facilities include GP, community dental and physiotherapy services. The centre also includes a library, a Birmingham City Council Customer Service Centre, a community centre facilities, six start-up offices and landscaped public areas.

(CD)