New £5m church to inspire Lozells community in Birmingham
Jan 11 2010 By Tom Fleming
Even their regal blue upholstery has been specifically chosen in order to reduce sound absorption.
Flexibility was a key consideration throughout, with rooms benefitting from partitioned walls so they can either be used for individual purposes or extended to accommodate larger groups.
Four 10ft air-ducts akin to spires flank the building’s exterior and the building is energy-efficient, benefitting from a high thermal performance that will keep bills to a minimum.
The journey to build the New Testament Church of God took almost ten years and was not without its challenges.
Initially the church had hoped to maintain their original building but severe structural challenges and the costs associated with making it compliant with 21st century standards.
Next there were initial challenges from the local authority which proposed to extend the conservation area meaning the original building could not have been pulled down.
However, by 2004 these hurdles had been overcome and planning permission was awarded.
Kingswinford-based Adonis Construction, which had already worked with Paul Henry Architects on the 2,500 seat Bethel Convention Centre in West Bromwich, began work on site in October 2008.
Adonis, which boasts more than 30 years in the construction industry, was faced with a singularly unique challenge in delivering the 48-week project to schedule.
The scale of the structure is such that it occupies the entirety of its site, leaving little room for manoeuvre.
For the five-strong Adonis Construction management team this meant adopting an extremely specialised way of working.
The building was constructed from the inside out and all heavy-duty building materials and equipment, including a 34 metre mobile crane was stored within the confines of restricted site perimeters.
Chairman Neville Clements explained that such flexibility in method is characteristic of Adonis’ approach.
The the firm gained national recognition for its Land Rover Solihull dealership which was innovatively constructed to utilise every section of its site.
He said: “We’ve established ourselves as experts in delivering quality projects within limited site footprints and have developed a really effective and streamlined way of working.
“Every project has its own challenges and we pride ourselves on working in partnership to reach tailored-made solutions and importantly, delivering projects on time.”
For the New Testament Church of God the building represents a new start, according to senior pastor Derek Webley.
He said: “The building represents hope.
“I am proud to be a part of a successful story in an area that is often renowned for negative things.
“The church building represents hope which I pray will act as an inspiration to many and show that collective positive action brings about collective positive outcomes.”
Mr Henry recalls a member from the congregation remarking to him that the new church looked so fantastic it was, “more like something you’d expect to see in a city centre or in London rather than here in Lozells”.
But the new church is here to stay - and the quality of its finish and the investment it represents into the area is a clear indicator that Lozells is a place that’s on the way up.
