Work Begins on UK's Largest Christian Monument After £40m Goal Reached

Michael Ringer

05 Nov 2025 — 4 min read

Construction began this week on what will become the United Kingdom's largest Christian monument after the project reached its initial £40 million fundraising target.

The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, located between the M6 and M42 motorways in Coleshill near Birmingham, will stand 51 metres (167 feet) tall in the form of a Möbius strip, a continuous loop symbolizing eternity and unity. The monument will be more than twice the height of the Angel of the North and is designed to become a national symbol of faith, hope, and heritage.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, marking the start of construction on the 10-acre site. The monument is expected to open to the public in 2028.

The structure will contain one million bricks, each digitally linked to a unique story of answered prayer accessible through smartphones. Visitors will be able to scan individual bricks via mobile devices to read each story, making the Eternal Wall one of the world's first digitally interactive faith monuments.

The project has been backed by more than 20,000 supporters, with £40 million raised from donors across the world. So far, approximately 120,000 answered prayers have been submitted or pledged from 125 countries, with a goal of 250,000 by opening day. Stories include healing, marriage reconciliation, addiction recovery, and other demonstrations of faith.

Richard Gamble, former Leicester City Football Club chaplain and founder of the project, said he received a vision from God to build the landmark more than 20 years ago.

"I was carrying a cross around my county, and God said, 'build a landmark of a million bricks,'" Gamble told Premier Christian News. "I've been on this rollercoaster journey for 11 years."

"I am delighted we are creating a monument that will share a million stories of hope and that people will be able to discover Jesus, who listens to and answers prayer," Gamble said. "We have faced many delays and challenges. I believe the timing is perfect."

Originally, construction was due to begin in 2021, with the monument opening in 2022, but the project was delayed due to rising costs, inflation, and design complexities.

The structure was designed by award-winning Snug Architects following a Royal Institute of British Architects competition. VSL has been appointed as lead contractor. Land for the site was donated by IM Properties, owned by Christian businessman Lord Edmiston, whose company also made a significant financial contribution to construction costs.

The monument's prominent location means it will be visible to motorists travelling along the M6 and M42, passengers on HS2 trains, and aircraft arriving at Birmingham Airport. Organisers estimate that the monument will expose approximately 800,000 people weekly to the structure and could draw around 250,000 visitors annually once complete.

In addition to the monument, the site will feature 10 acres of landscaped green space, walking paths, and in a later phase, a visitor centre and conference facility. The project is expected to create approximately 20 full-time jobs. An additional £5.7 million is still needed to make the site fully operational, including funding for the car park, visitor centre, and landscaping.

"Eternal Wall is designed to remind our nation, and people everywhere, of God's goodness," said Lord Edmiston. "It stands as a testament to present and future generations that the Creator of the universe has answered countless prayers throughout history and continues to answer them today."

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Britain is building a 51-metre monument to answered prayer. While churches close across the nation, while Christian heritage crumbles, while secularism tightens its grip on British culture, someone said: enough. We're building something that declares God is real and prayer works.

The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer will stand twice as tall as the Angel of the North. Visible from six miles away.

Seen by 800,000 people every week from motorways, trains, and planes. One million bricks. One million testimonies. One million declarations that Jesus Christ hears and answers prayer.

For 20 years, Richard Gamble carried this vision. Former Leicester City chaplain who heard God say, "Build a landmark of a million bricks." And instead of dismissing it as crazy, he obeyed. Eleven years of fundraising. Delays. Rising costs. Skepticism. But he didn't quit.

Now it's happening. £40 million raised from 20,000 supporters worldwide. Land donated by a Christian businessman. Construction beginning this week.

This is what happens when Christians stop being defensive and start being declarative. Stop hiding and start building. Stop apologizing for the faith and start proclaiming it.

The Church in Britain needs more of this spirit. More vision. More boldness. More willingness to build monuments to God's glory in a culture that's forgotten Him.