Construction has officially begun on what will become the United Kingdom's largest Christian monument, a groundbreaking sculptural landmark called the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer. Designed by UK-based Snug Architects, this remarkable structure will soar over 50 meters high in Warwickshire and is set to become a major religious and architectural landmark when completed in 2028.
The monument features an innovative design inspired by a Möbius strip, creating a continuous concrete band that curves and twists in an endless loop. This ribbon-like structure will reach an impressive height of 51.5 meters and span 80 meters in width, officially making it the largest piece of Christian art in the United Kingdom upon completion. The sculptural design represents a departure from traditional religious monuments, offering visitors a unique and modern interpretation of Christian faith and prayer.
Located near Coleshill, the ambitious project will be constructed using 188 differently shaped precast concrete elements, all clad in one million white bricks. Each individual brick on the looping wall will represent the story of an answered prayer, creating a powerful collective testament to faith. Visitors will be able to access and read these prayer stories through a dedicated mobile app, making the monument an interactive experience that connects physical architecture with digital storytelling.
The surrounding landscape will feature carefully designed footpaths and landscaped areas that will guide visitors around the wall's perimeter. Additionally, the site will include a comprehensive visitor center and a prayer room that will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing a space for continuous worship and reflection. The monument has been strategically positioned to inspire hope and prayer not only among visitors but also among travelers passing by on the adjacent M6 and M42 motorways.
Paul Bulkeley, director of Snug Architects, revealed that the inspiration for the Möbius strip design came to him during a moment of prayer. "I am a Christian, and when faced with a significant work challenge, it is my normal practice to pray and ask Jesus for inspiration," Bulkeley explained. "On this occasion, I pondered the brief, 'one million bricks is 15,000 square meters, which creates a 7.5 kilometer garden wall' – that is totally uninspiring and inaccessible. I prayed, and the Möbius strip popped into my head."
Bulkeley further described how the concept transformed the project: "A simple wall was transformed into a highly dynamic, gently enclosing yet open and inviting courtyard that twisted through the air." The architect emphasized that the design brief specifically called for a structure that would not feature obvious Christian symbolism, which the Möbius strip design successfully achieved while still maintaining deep spiritual significance.
Snug Architects was originally commissioned to design the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer in 2016, after winning a global competition organized by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Construction could finally commence after the project's ambitious £40 million fundraising target was successfully met, demonstrating significant community and religious support for the initiative.
Reflecting on the design's symbolic meaning, Bulkeley noted: "On deeper reflection, this was clearly a beautiful and poetic solution that has proved to be rich with poetic significance and symbolism whilst meeting the brief of being free from explicit Christian symbolism. It was beautifully simple and therefore had the potential to be iconic – I knew we had something special." The Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer represents a new approach to religious architecture, combining modern design principles with timeless spiritual themes to create a monument that will serve both as a place of worship and a significant architectural achievement.
