Places of Worship Heritage Trail - Smethwick
Welcome to the Smethwick Places of Worship Heritage Trail. We hope you’ll enjoy your walk learning about the rich variety of religious communities who live alongside one another.
The trail will take you through a culturally diverse area, so as well as the places of worship you will encounter people, shops, food and clothing from around the world that have all made their home in Smethwick. Whilst the trail is focussed on one small area it reflects the diversity that is found across the West Midlands.
Before you head out please take a few minutes to read these tips to keep you safe and help you to have an enjoyable walk.
- Check the route before you go so you don’t get lost
- Wear some comfortable shoes and take waterproofs if needed
- Be aware of your surroundings, particularly when crossing roads
- Always stop walking when reading the map
- Be considerate of other people if walking in a big group or stopping to read the information
- Make sure the leader is wearing a high-vis vest and knows the names of everyone in the group
- Stay together throughout the walk
- Make sure everyone is aware of this information
Enjoy yourselves and make the most of being in the area, why not stop for food or a drink at one of the many cafés you’ll pass on the way.
The full route is just over 4 miles so allow about 3 hours for your walk, which will give you time to stop and take notice of what you are seeing. This route starts at Galton Bridge Station and ends at Rolfe St Station. To return to Galton Bridge you can either walk along the canal towpath (entrance on North Western Rd which is opposite Rolfe St Station), walk back along the road or take the train. Walking along the towpath should take about 15 minutes.
The shorter route starts and ends at Rolfe St station and is approximately 2.5 miles so it’s best to allow about 2 hours
At each place of worship, we will give you some information about the building, the community that worships there and a short story of one member of that faith community. Below there are links to their websites so you can find out more and arrange a visit if you should wish to.
The route also contains information about some of the history of the area, both industrial and social. You’ll discover that some remarkable and historically significant events have taken place here.