The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Alban And St Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham
Charity 1169941
Overview
Summary
The available evidence suggests that St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate operates as both a parish-based faith organisation and a steward of a significant historic building. Its role appears broader than worship alone: it combines pastoral, social, ecumenical and public-facing functions, using services, facilities, advice and grants as possible means of advancing its mission. This may position it as a local civic asset whose religious purpose is partly delivered through relationships and shared community infrastructure.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bordesley and Highgate
Confidence: high
The PCC’s active church, church hall and associated community work are explicitly located in Highgate. Birmingham City Council’s current ward mapping identifies Bordesley and Highgate as the relevant ward.
- PCC Annual Report 2025, submitted to the Charity Commission in April 2026
The report defines the PCC's mission as pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical work in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate. It identifies St Alban the Martyr church and the adjoining St Patrick’s Room church hall, and records regular worship, community-facing events and use of the hall during 2025. - St Alban the Martyr official website, Church Services page
The church states that it holds public worship every Sunday at St Alban's Church in Highgate, and says it supports Stanhope Wellbeing Hub, has connections with Ark St Alban's Academy, and administers Highgate United Food Bank. - A Church Near You: St Alban the Martyr, About us and our community
The church describes itself as the parish church of Highgate and states that, through the Highgate Inter Faith Group, it runs an independent food bank with Central Synagogue, Stanhope Centre and Ark St Alban's Academy, providing weekly food bags to local people. - Ark St Alban's Academy official contact page
Ark St Alban's Academy is identified by the church as a collaborator. - Birmingham City Council: Stanhope Wellbeing Hub
Stanhope Wellbeing Hub, identified by the church as a supported local partner, is located in Highgate. - Birmingham City Council: New ward maps 2024
The council publishes a current ward map for Bordesley and Highgate, supporting the classification of the organisation's Highgate operational base within that ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The ecclesiastical parish boundary described in the 2025 annual report is more detailed than the available ward-level evidence. It may not align exactly with the Bordesley and Highgate ward boundary, so the evidence does not support assigning the PCC's full parish territory to any additional ward.
- The PCC participates in a five-parish Anglo-Catholic mission project, alongside St George's Edgbaston and other Birmingham parishes. This shows collaborative links beyond Highgate, but the available evidence does not demonstrate that this PCC itself currently delivers regular services or maintains operational sites in those other parishes.
- The available evidence confirms that the PCC administers Highgate United Food Bank, but does not clearly identify its current distribution venue, detailed catchment or whether distribution occurs solely from Highgate-based sites.
Additional evidence needed
- A current service or food-bank timetable specifying delivery and distribution locations, and the areas in which food-bank activity is directly delivered.
- A current description from the Anglo-Catholic Mission project identifying each participating PCC's practical responsibilities, locations of activity and whether St Alban's PCC delivers activity outside Highgate.
- An authoritative map or parish document cross-referencing the current ecclesiastical parish boundary with Birmingham's current ward boundaries.
Areas of work
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A dual role: parish mission and heritage stewardship
The organisation appears to carry two interconnected responsibilities: advancing the Church's mission within its parish and caring for a Grade II* listed church. The building may therefore be both a conservation responsibility and a practical resource for community-facing activity.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the organisation from a congregation focused only on worship. Decisions about buildings, partnerships and resources may need to serve both local mission and long-term heritage care.
Show evidence
“Promoting the whole mission of the Church of England, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham.”
Source:Organisation“Caring for the Grade II* listed Church of St Alban the Martyr.”
Source:Organisation
Mission is framed as relational rather than narrowly devotional
The inclusion of pastoral, social and ecumenical work suggests that the organisation sees church mission as extending across care, community connection and cooperation between Christian traditions, rather than solely religious observance.
Why it matters
This indicates potential relevance to organisations concerned with wellbeing, social connection or community cohesion, even where their primary work is not religious.
Show evidence
“PROMOTING IN THE PARISH THE WHOLE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.”
Source:Charity Commission“Promoting the whole mission of the Church of England, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.”
Source:Organisation
Potentially a local enabling organisation
Its stated methods—grants, facilities, services and advice—suggest that it may support activity beyond direct worship, potentially enabling other groups or individuals through space, resources or practical guidance.
Why it matters
This raises a useful question about whether the church is an under-recognised local platform for voluntary activity, particularly if its building is accessible to other organisations.
Show evidence
“Makes Grants To Organisations, Provides Buildings/facilities/open Space, Provides Services, Provides Advocacy/advice/information.”
Source:Charity Commission“The General Public/mankind.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which community groups, organisations or residents use or benefit from its facilities, services, advice or grants.
- Whether heritage stewardship limits, enables or shapes the organisation's community activity.
- How ecumenical and social work is delivered in practice.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, accounts or parish newsletters describing activities, grants, building use and partnerships.
- Information on room hire, community programmes, accessibility and organisations using the church building.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Promoting the whole mission of the Church of England, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical in the ecclesiastical parish of St Alban and St Patrick, Highgate, Birmingham; and caring for the Grade II* listed Church of St Alban the Martyr.
Charity objects
PROMOTING IN THE PARISH THE WHOLE MISSION OF THE CHURCH.