MEMBERS of a Grade II Listed Birmingham church devastated by a 2007 arson attack took their first look inside the building’s shell at the weekend.

But the heartbroken congregation were also given hope on Saturday as they saw impressions of how St Barnabas Church, High Street, Erdington, will look on completion of a £4 million restoration.

Work began earlier this month to clear debris from the collapsed roof from the 150-year-old church.

Welcoming members of the community to see the remains of the building before reconstruction begins, Vicar Freda Evans said seeing the destruction would help heal the wounds the arson attack caused.

She said: “It felt important for people to see it. Iin a way I wish people could have done it just after the fire. It would have been helpful because people didn’t realise the extent of the destruction.”

The arson attack in 2007, for which nobody was ever arrested, left the historic building an empty shell.

“A few people didn’t have any idea how much work there is to be done,” added Rev Evans.

“People walking by and seeing it everyday would be saying “just get on with it”, so we thought it important to for them to be able to see the different stages of the development.

“It’s their church, they have a part in its development and the new chapter in its life so we thought they should see it before the building starts.

“We want it to be the hub of Erdington where people can gather.”