Birmingham UMC is located on 63 acres, two-thirds of which are set aside in a natural setting as a sanctuary, a venue for one’s spirit to rest. We believe in creating spaces that extend God’s love beyond our walls. Our church grounds are peaceful, welcoming spaces that are open to everyone.
There are three miles of community trails, streams, footbridges, many gathering spaces, an outdoor chapel, a large outdoor amphitheater, a baseball field, and plenty of room for individuals and small groups to experience private time with God.
When donating, please be sure to select “Walking Path Refresh” from the “fund” dropdown menu so your donation is properly credited to that account!
Our church grounds, including our community trails, are more than just walking paths. It’s a place where neighbors come to reflect, families enjoy time together, and individuals experience peace, prayer, and the beauty of God’s creation. And we love all our four-legged friends that come to visit! These are places where faith meets fresh air.
To bring this vision to life, we’re inviting you to be part of something meaningful. A list of completed and future projects is below, so you can get an idea of how your donation will be used. Interested in donating your time to volunteer for ground cleanup, firewood harvesting, and cleaning up the outdoor prayer labyrinth. This is outreach in motion. Every gift helps us share God’s love in a tangible, lasting way.
NEW CROSS BY AMPHITHEATER
The lichen was liking the old cross a little too much! It was replaced in March 2025.
BRIDGE REPAIR (APRIL 2025)
David Camp and Roy Schotenfeld repaired the decking, ramps, and handrails on this bridge. They originally built this bridge in 2006 and donated their time and materials to make this project happen.
CREEK FORD
This project graded out a ford that has enabled us to access and maintain a 9-acre portion of our property that was previously inaccessible. The 9 acres include an old trail that adds another 1/2 mile to our trail system, which passes through another beautiful stand of mature hardwoods.
FOOTBRIDGE OFF PRAYER TRAIL
This project will replace a 10-year-old bridge built by one of our Eagle Scouts. Because the creek bank has eroded over time, one of the bridge’s anchor piers is beginning to be exposed. This footbridge gives access to about a half-mile of walking trail that loops through beautiful mature hardwoods. The estimated cost of replacement is between $3,000 to $8,000, depending on the type of materials used.
TRAIL REPAIR
The north/south section of the trail to the west of the footbridge needs to be reopened to encourage walkers to stay on our property. This would keep walkers on our property and not venturing into our neighbors’ on the west side. Also, the loop trail on the other side of the creek ford needs to be reopened.
PRAYER LABYRINTH
This area needs to be cleaned up, as well as more structure in place to preserve its future use. Less monetary funds are needed, but a lot of elbow grease and passion are needed to fuel this project.
ONGOING MAINTENANCE & UNEXPECTED NEEDS
Your support helps us care for the trail long after revitalization is complete. From storm damage to natural wear and tear, we want to be good stewards of this space and ready for whatever may arise.
The video below will help you navigate our beautiful campus when you visit.
