Historic Redditch church prepares for major transformation

A CHURCH in Redditch is preparing to give its Victorian pews a new lease of life as part of plans to make the Grade II-listed building more flexible, welcoming and usable for worship and community activities.

St Stephen’s Church, in the town centre, will remove its traditional fixed wooden pews this summer, replacing them with flexible, modern seating.

The move is the first major step in a wider renewal scheme, coinciding with an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and an upcoming fundraising campaign.

For over a century, the Victorian pews have shaped the interior of the Grade II-listed building. But, the fixed layout restricts how the space can be used by a modern, growing and vibrant church community and by people in the wider Redditch area.

Rather than allowing the historic pews to go to waste, St Stephen’s is launching a unique recycling scheme. The church is offering the reclaimed pews free of charge to local schools, colleges and community organisations.

Members of the wider public can also purchase a pew for a small fee, with all proceeds going directly towards the church’s renewal fund.

---

---

Rev Dr Fraser Oates, vicar and renewal leader at St Stephen’s, said: “Our community and activities are growing rapidly.

“To support this growth, we need to invest in our building.

“By replacing the fixed pews with movable seating, we can open up the space for diverse, contemporary uses that benefit the entire town.”

Rev Oates emphasised that local heritage remained at the heart of the project.

He added: “We do not want to see these pews sent to a skip – we want them to find new homes around Redditch so they can continue to be a part of our town’s shared life and history.”

The pew removal is part of a larger, comprehensive internal reordering plan. The church has recently applied for a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to help finance the conservation of the building’s historic fabric while upgrading its facilities to 21st-century standards.

Future phases of the project are expected to include new internal rooms extending to the first-floor, new kitchen and toilet facilities and a new sustainable heating system.

To bridge the funding gap and bring the full vision to life, St Stephen’s will be embarking upon a fundraising campaign, inviting trusts, local residents, businesses and benefactors to invest in the town’s heritage.

Rev Oates added: “St Stephen’s has been a vital asset to Redditch for generations – this reordering isn’t about erasing the past, it’s about ensuring our church remains alive, open and viable for the future.”

Those wishing to claim or buy an historic St Stephen’s pew have until Friday June 12 to express their interest.

The pews are expected to be ready for collection and transport during the summer holidays.

People can email: [email protected] for all pew inquiries and pricing details.

Details on the upcoming fundraising campaign and how to support the church’s renewal project will be announced in due course.