FAQs

Have questions?

Where will it be built?

Eternal Wall will be built in Coleshill near Birmingham, UK and 500,000 journeys will pass the landmark every week.

With visibility from up to six miles away, Eternal Wall will be seen from the M42  and M6.

Flights to and from nearby Birmingham Airport shall also have excellent views of Eternal Wall from every angle.

And finally, any trains travelling on the HS2 will also get a glimpse of this magnificent monument.

When will it be built?

In 2020 we received planning permission.

The access road is now complete.

Eternal Wall is expected to open in Autumn 2027.

How will I access the answered prayers?

Each answered prayer will be digitally linked to a specific location in the impressive structure. Using a bespoke app, you will be able to hold your phone up to a brick and discover the specific answered prayer it represents with either audio, video or text.

How will I be able to read the answered prayers that I can’t reach?

The app will be specially designed to allow you to have access to every brick on-site. Even the bricks on the arch, which is 51.5 metres high. 

How are answered prayers validated?

We have a process in place to ensure all submitted prayers are reviewed with care. We are grateful for the answered prayer permissions we receive, and all answered prayers are processed diligently by our team. We take measures to ensure no one attempts to abuse the system, and we combine the use of technology and human moderation to achieve this.

How is it funded?

The Vast majority of our funding has come from the public, and we believed this to be the first crowdfunded national landmark.

Crowdfunding is at the heart of Eternal Wall. We believe there is something special about building a national landmark that is funded by tens of thousands of people. 

Our intention is to undertake all the capital investment without incurring any debt, creating a larger net profit for charities.

Once Build, Eternal Wall will be funded by the carpark,  cafe, book shop and educational centre. These funds will go towards; 1 Million bricks worth of social housing, Charities and local good works. 

Is Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer multi-faith?

Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer will be a piece of public art about Jesus and Christianity.

It is open for everybody to visit and enjoy, igniting the conversation about the importance of prayer in the modern world. The UK is incredibly diverse. We believe a multi-faith society is about having the freedom for each faith to express their beliefs.

What will Eternal Wall look like?

What will eternal wall of answered prayer look like?

Eternal Wall is designed in the shape of an infinity loop called a Möbius strip. A surface which has neither beginning nor end and which can never be classed as a static, finite wall. Created by taking a ribbon, giving it a half-twist, and then re-joining the ends to form a loop, the shape is essentially a single surface running fluently in an ever-connecting line. As a result, a person can never be on the outside or the inside of it.

For us, the continuous nature of the band represents how God is always listening and always answering our prayers.

The monumental structure will rise 51.5m into the sky.

A global competition was run with the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2016 to find a design for Eternal Wall, and received 133 entries from 28 countries. Southampton-based practice, Snug Architectsput forward the winning concept and we announced this in May 2019. Since then, the design has been developed and refined in response to the site, increasing in scale and impact.

How is spending this much money justified?

Once Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer is operational it will generate significant income to continue to invest into social housing and other charities. For every brick in Eternal Wall, we will be putting another brick into social housing. 

Additional funds will also be donated to charities and good works with a minimum of 10% donated to local projects. In the first 20 years, we expect Eternal Wall to generate over £30M for charities and good works.

We believe that God has an unlimited supply. Because of this, it isn’t a choice of whether Eternal Wall should be built or if other worthy causes should be funded. We believe that God has enough to provide for both. The Bible says that God is a gracious and generous God. We want to demonstrate this with Eternal Wall.

About Eternal Wall

What will Eternal Wall look like?

Eternal Wall is designed in the shape of an infinity loop called a Möbius strip. A surface which has neither beginning nor end and which can never be classed as a static, finite wall. Created by taking a ribbon, giving it a half-twist, and then re-joining the ends to form a loop, the shape is essentially a single surface running fluently in an ever-connecting line. As a result, a person can never be on the outside or the inside of it, it is all inclusive.

For us, the continuous nature of the band represents how God is always listening and always answering our prayers.

The monumental structure will rise 51.5m into the sky.

A global competition was run with the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2016 to find a design for Eternal Wall, receiving 133 entries from 28 countries. Southampton-based practice, Snug Architects,and announced in May 2019. Since then, the design has been developed and refined in response to the site, increasing in scale and impact.

What is a Möbius strip?

Eternal Wall takes the shape of an infinity loop called a Möbius strip. This is a surface that has neither beginning nor end, and which can never be classed as a static, finite wall. Created by taking a ribbon, giving it a half-twist, and then re-joining the ends to form an infinity loop, the shape is essentially a single surface running fluently in an ever-connecting line. As a result, a person can never be on the outside or the inside of it.

For us, the continuous nature of the band represents how God is always listening and always answering our prayers.

How high will Eternal Wall be?

The most notable feature of Eternal Wall is its stunning arch which will rise and twist 51.5m into the air. Compared to other familiar landmarks Eternal Wall is:

 

  • Just half a metre shy of Nelson’s Column which towers 52m in Trafalgar Square.
  • More than twice the size of The Angel of the North which stands at 20m high.
  • Eleven times the size of a 4.39m double decker bus.
  • Twenty nine times the height of the average British man of 5ft 9 inches.

What will be on-site?

Eternal Wall will have a

  • Visitor centre
  • An exhibition space where you can find out what Christians believe about Jesus and how He answers prayer. This will align with the national RE curriculum.
  • We’ll have a bookshop
  • A café with outdoor seating,
  • An education centre
  •  A 24/7 prayer room.

What will the gardens be like at Eternal Wall?

Eternal Wall will be set within ten acres of green space encouraging reflection, relaxation and wellbeing. A peaceful sweeping lawn will feature underneath the arch as it soars overhead.

Moving away from the structure there will be natural wildflower meadow planting and beautiful open space through which a network of flat and gently sloping footpaths will weave all over the site, making it accessible for everyone to walk and enjoy the dynamic views.

Seating areas and a large planted decorative garden will also create a restful environment for you to take in the impressive architecture and reflect on the answered prayers you’ve read and whether prayer should become part of your life.

Our intention is that you will be wowed, engaged and inspired as you move around the landmark.

What stage are we at now?

In 2020 we recieved planning permission. We finished the access road in February 2022, and Eternal Wall is due to be completed in 2027. But you can always find out what is happening month to month by joining our mailing list below or take a look at our news page.

Find us  on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Answered prayers bricks

How many bricks in the structure?

The structure will be made of a million bricks, each one representing an individual’s answered prayer: an account of when they prayed to Jesus, and He answered.

How are answered prayers validated?

We have a process in place to ensure all submitted prayers are reviewed with care. We are grateful for the answered prayer permissions we receive, and all answered prayers are processed diligently by our team. We take measures to ensure no one attempts to abuse the system, and we combine the use of technology and human moderation to achieve this.

How will Eternal Wall preserve the UK’s Christian heritage?

God has faithfully and powerfully moved throughout the history of the UK. We are uncovering a wealthy heritage of answered prayers dating back to the arrival of Christianity in the 2nd century, up to the end of WWII.  These will feature prominently on Eternal Wall illustrating the heritage of Christianity in the UK, in addition to more recent prayers.

These stories will come from cities, towns and villages across the UK, representing the way Jesus has answered prayer through the broad church across the centuries.

In 100 years’ time Eternal Wall will still be standing and, generations to come will be able to submit new answered prayers, whilst discovering the World’s largest database of stories of hope.

How will I access the answered prayers?

Each answered prayer will be digitally linked to a specific location in the impressive structure. Using a bespoke app, you will be able to hold your phone up to a brick and discover the specific answered prayer it represents with either audio, video or text.

How many answered prayers can I submit?

Each validated prayer will be hosted on a single brick. However, each brick, over time, will host an infinite number of answered prayers, remaining a living testament to and celebration of God’s work. There is no limit to the number prayers you can submit. Every answered prayer that we receive is read by one of our dedicated team members to determine its validity. A brief structure for an answered prayer is.

  • What was your situation?
  • How did you pray?
  • How did Jesus answer your prayer?

Difficult questions

Why should I donate to Eternal Wall instead of giving to another charity?

We believe supporting Eternal Wall is a great way to leave a legacy of hope for future generations. By donating, you will be helping to make hope visible: supporting a new national landmark about Jesus to house the biggest database of hope stories in the world. 

This project is being made possible by crowdfunding and the financial support of thousands of people. We’d love you to consider being part of this exciting build by donating, and by sharing your answered prayer.

Once Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer is built it will generate enough income to run, and we will have the means to invest into social housing and other charities.

We believe that God has an unlimited supply. Because of this, it isn’t a choice of whether Eternal Wall should be built or if other worthy causes should be funded; we believe that God has enough to provide for both.

Is Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer multi-faith?

Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer will be a piece of public art about Jesus and Christianity. It is open for everybody to visit and enjoy, igniting the conversation about the importance of prayer in the modern world. The UK is incredibly diverse. We believe a multi-faith society is about having the freedom for each faith to express their beliefs.

Is there a scriptural basis for Eternal Wall?

There are multiple moments in Scripture where memorial stones and monuments are used to commemorate God’s victories and to celebrate His goodness. 

In Genesis 28, Jacob memorialises the time when God speaks to him in a dream. The experience is so powerful that he sets up a commemorative stone.

After God parts the Jordan River for the Israelites to cross, Joshua leads the twelve tribes of Israel to remove boulders from the riverbed to erect into a memorial in the Promised Land.

In 1 Samuel 7:7-12, Samuel sets up a stone to celebrate God’s victory over the Philistines.
These are just a few examples highlighting how people used stones to signpost others to remember God’s love and miraculous assistance, not just for the people who witnessed the wonder, but for those living generations after. 

You can find out more about the topic of memorials in scripture here.

Will Eternal Wall be a distraction to drivers?

You’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the monument when driving on the M6 and M42, similar to how people see the Willow Man on the M5 and the Angel of the North as they drive on the A1(M). While there is some debate whether landmarks along the motorway are a distraction, Mike Wilson from Highways England argues otherwise. He suggests that “creating different vistas, different environments for people to consider, is a way of stimulating the road user.”

An article in The Telegraph published in January 2018 says this:

Mr Wilson dismissed concerns that drivers could be distracted by the picturesque scenery and said: “They should be focused on the road. But fatigue is a real challenge for road users.” 

Interesting views could “help them stay awake”, he added.

Mr Wilson said enabling drivers to see “statement structures” like the Angel of the North in Gateshead and the Willow Man in Somerset gave them “a sense of location” and acted as a visual reminder that “you’re making progress on your journey”.

We don’t foresee Eternal Wall being a distraction but hold to the belief that this beautiful monument will stimulate drivers, provide a familiar marker to reassure motorists on their travels and become a much-loved landmark in the UK.

 

How will Eternal Wall impact the Green Belt?

From the outset, our intention was to open up an inaccessible landscape to the public. When we were given a piece of land within the Green Belt, we put great consideration into not only lessening our impact on the landscape but improving accessibility to a beautiful space that enhances the visitor experience of contemplation and mindfulness. The chosen concept won an international design competition run by RIBA largely because it complements rather than obstructs the landscape. The architects achieved this through a range of design choices, including the sweep of the arch and the openness of the structure.

Paul Bulkeley, Head Architect says
‘Eternal Wall’s gentle curves and flowing surface resonates with the rolling hills that are so synonymous with the English landscape. This creates a landmark that is simultaneously monumental in scale and at one with its landscape setting.’

Official planning report from Turley 

Any adverse impact of Eternal Wall on the openness of the Green Belt is considered to be low. The relatively small footprint of the structure and the site’s location, relative to the wider Birmingham conurbation and its relationship to the M6 and M42 and their associated bridges, signage and lighting, all contribute to this low impact.  

We also believe that the prominence and visibility of the sculpture will have a positive impact on the openness of the Green Belt, rather than creating a conflict with its aims. This positive impact arises as the form of the landmark is open – with its arch rising high into the sky – and does not create a barrier to open views or a blockage to the open outlook. It also complements and enhances the open character of the setting, inviting a new perspective by opening up the landscape.

As a unique monument and art form, there will not be the risk of urban sprawl, merging of towns or encroachment into the countryside, which would be the case with any ‘normal’ building. To the contrary, the development will make a positive contribution to the underlying purposes of designating land within the Green Belt, by:

  • Providing public access to an environment which is currently private and inaccessible
  • Creating a new opportunity for outdoor recreation
  • Enhancing the landscape’s visual amenity and the site’s biodiversity

Benefits of Eternal Wall

What charities will benefit from the landmark?

Once built, Eternal Wall will be funded by the carpark, cafe, book shop and educational centre. These funds will go towards; 1 million bricks worth for local social housing projects, charitable causes and good works.

At the end of each financial year, trustees will seek to distribute any funds raised.  These funds will be distributed to:

  • Social housing projects
  • Local charities and community groups
  • Other charities in line with Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer’s charitable objectives

How will the landmark benefit the local area?

With great benefit to the local economy, it is anticipated that Eternal Wall will create 60 jobs during its construction, thereafter providing 20 full-time positions for employees to work for the charity in ongoing administration, in the visitor centre, café, bookstore and as part of the 24 hour on-site chaplaincy support team. The development will give a £1.2 million economic output to the surrounding region.  The wider gross social value impact will be £1.4 billion.

Based on the experience of the Angel of the North in Gateshead, we expect to attract between 150,000 and 200,000 visitors per year and generate significant investment into the local economy. It is estimated that visitors will bring in £9.3 million to the wider West Midlands economy.

For the local residents this will be a great way to engage with public art. Further to this, the site will have a large open park area where people can come and enjoy a time of peace and reflection regardless of faith and belief.

How will Eternal Wall benefit social housing?

Once constructed, all profits raised from the ongoing operation of Eternal Wall will fund a million bricks worth of social housing. Eternal Wall will link with local and national UK social action organisations, council housing charities, and international social housing initiatives to provide enough finance to build 100 houses.

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