Birmingham Cathedral

St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham

Built in 1715 as the new parish church “on the hill”, St Philip’s is a rare and fine example of elegant English Baroque architecture. It is Grade 1 listed and one of the oldest buildings in the city still used for its original purpose. Fascinating both inside and out, the cathedral is home to some remarkable treasures (not least the inspiring stained-glass windows designed by Edward Burne-Jones) and amazing stories, all set amongst the daily rhythm of people criss-crossing this unique part of the city.

2015 is an opportunity to uncover and highlight significant aspects of cathedral life over the past 300 years. We will be sharing this heritage through an exciting programme of exhibitions, tours, talks, guided walks and new publications.

There will be family events, trails, schools workshops, study days and partnerships with cultural organisations, universities and businesses in the city. A specially commissioned film will consider the cathedral’s role within our vibrant, diverse city today.

We invite you to get involved in the celebrations and discover the wealth of heritage connected with the cathedral as well as its strong links to the history and development of Birmingham. Share your thoughts and memories, explore more of the building’s past through archive research at the Library of Birmingham or help provide a warm and informed welcome.

2015 is an ideal opportunity to come and see an artistic masterpiece, witness architectural brilliance, meet compelling people or, quite simply, share a timeless peace that this place has been offering visitors and worshippers for 300 years.

The cathedral building is open and staffed from 8.00am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Times change during the school holiday times, so please do check with us prior to visiting. When services are taking place there will be restricted access.

There are free short guided tours of the cathedral every Monday at 1pm and every other Wednesday at 2.30pm. Tours illustrate how the church became a cathedral, in a town that became a city, highlight key features of the interior and relate stories of some of the people connected with the building. Tours last about 30 mins. 

We regularly provide guided tours for groups. We have an in-house education team who can provide tours to schools, with an emphasis on covering the appropriate areas of the national curriculum.