The place name is listed historically as 'Barnhurst', with the earliest reference to it as Barinhurst (1250), from old English 'bere-ærn' (barn) and 'hyrst' (wooded hill).

A moated farm complete with dovecote and ponds existed in the area of the present day church.

Wolverhampton Corporation bought the Barnhurst estate in 1867, developing part of the area as a sewerage farm by 1870.

Barnhurst farm was operated by Wolverhampton Corporation until 1975, with the housing estate coming a short while later.

The Dovecote pub stood on the site of the farmhouse, though this closed in the 2000s and is now a Seventh Day Adventist church.