Work to start on million-brick prayer monument

Project leaders say the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer would be the UK's biggest Christian monument

Construction of what would be the UK's largest Christian monument will begin this week after a £40m fundraising target was met.

The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer will be built between the M6 and M42 near Coleshill, Warwickshire, and will be about 51m (167ft) tall, and is in the form of a Mobius strip.

It will contain about one million bricks, project leaders said, with each representing a story of Jesus answering someone's prayer.

A ground-breaking ceremony signalling the start of construction will take place on Wednesday and the structure is scheduled to be completed by 2028.

Former Leicester City FC chaplain Richard Gamble, who has led the project, said: "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."

He said he was grateful to everyone who had backed the monument, which included more than 20,000 supporters.

"This is the moment to build a landmark of hope," he added. "A lasting testimony to the power of prayer, preserving the Christian heritage in our nation."

The monument is scheduled to open to the public in 2028

The Eternal Wall charity said the structure would be visible to motorway drivers, HS2 passengers and people landing at Birmingham Airport.

It is hoped the site, which will also include 10 acres of green space and a visitor centre, will attract 250,000 annual visitors.

The charity said it was continuing to fundraise for a further £5.7m to make the site fully operational.