It is the historic parish church of Handsworth dating from around 1160 but was substantially rebuilt in 1820 and 1870.

The interior contains two recumbent mediaeval effigies, an ancient piscina, a groined chapel and vault containing the remains of James Watt; a white marble statue of Watt by Francis Chantrey; a mural monument dedicated to pioneer industrialist Mathew Boulton; and a marble bust commemorating the inventor of the gas lamp, William Murdoch.

St Mary's is a grade-II*-listed building.

Vandals smashed headstones in St Mary's Churchyard on 21/22 August 2010 (News Archive 25/08/10)

Designed by WH Bidlake in the Decorated Style, it was built in red-and-blue-brick with stone-facings in 1907 and has a nave, chancel, west chapel, east organ chamber and small roof spire.

It is a former Methodist chapel that was acquired by a mainly Punjabi Christian congregation in 1983.

Built in stone in the Early English Style in 1840, it was substantially rebuilt by JA Chatwin in 1895; his red-brick additions are in the Decorated Style.

The interior contains a nave, chancel, aisles and north chapel; the north-west tower is crenellated.

It focuses on sharing the message of Jesus Christ and living as His disciples.

It is a pre-dominantly Afro-Caribbean congregation with a blend of traditional and modern worship.

It aims to empower and equip individuals to fulfil their God-given purposes.