Village Hall notice, Catherine-de-Barnes near Solihull

Image: © Roger Kidd Taken: 28 Aug 2012

The village hall in Catherine-de-Barnes (Catney) was originally the school, with chapel (St Catherine's Church) attached, built in 1879 and closed in 1974. Regular church services ceased in 2010. ...or was it a church with school attached?... By 2012 when this image was captured, a strong movement to prevent the church being sold off had started. This was successful, and on 14 December 2012 the Solihull News carried the following information: "The busy village hall, originally built as a school and chapel, has been at risk of closure since regular church services ceased there in 2010. The busy village hall, originally built as a school and chapel, has been at risk of closure since regular church services ceased there in 2010. Church of England Trust had been considering selling the historic building, but they have now reached an agreement with the local community to appoint new trustees to manage the hall. They will also be responsible for raising funds for the upkeep of St Catherine’s. The Rector of St Alphege Fr Tim Pilkington, said: “I am very pleased that we seem to have found a solution. St Catherine’s has had a long association with the local community, who have put a great deal of time and effort into supporting it financially over the years. The proposed plan will guarantee the future of St Catherine’s for the people of Catherine-de-Barnes and at the same time permit the church some continuing use of the building.” The red brick building, in Hampton Lane, was built by Joseph Gillott in 1879.

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