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For clarity this church (still standing) was formerly in the county of Staffordshire and was never part of Warwickshire. The confusion lies in that it is distinguished from ‘Blackheath, London’ and then as a consequence ‘lumped’ geographically with Birmingham which lies some 7 miles away. This Blackheath is part of that area known as the ‘Black Country’. The church itself was constructed (if memory serves me right) in 1850 and stands on the junction of Birmingham Rd and The Causeway. The architect’s drawing I presume was a blueprint for the church as the completed building is somewhat different. I have a couple of postcards myself of this church and I will email them to the site shortly.
Hi this brings back memories for me. As a 6:7 year old at the time, I recall the great excitement generated at Ashby Wesley in Scunthorpe, the lads in the Youth club 5 a side having won through to the final in London. My father was youth leader at the club at the time, so their success was a family concern. I remember the club members had a kind of “battle” chant for the team which went “ Chi wa wa – UGH”. It used wind up the opposition a treat.
Thank you for your comment. You might be interested in the document which has just been added to this post which mentions the inscribed bricks.
The correct re-naming of the church is
“The old Grendon Church” (not the old church)
the names on the side of the building were as follows – before the church was built and whilst it was being built you were able to buy a brick and have your or another name added, the proceeds of this money went towards the building of the church – the names of the people who lost their lives in WW1 is on a font which has been donated to a local church so that it can still be visited
This memorial shows Edgar Reuben Spencer – Ernest Spencer and Wilfred Spencer all brothers to my Great Grandad Benjamin Wesley Spencer who was killed in 1917 and buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Solferino Farm, Belgium but who doesnt show on the memorial.
As the link appears to be not working at present, further details follow. The Roll of Honour appears to have been compiled in the order of the men’s enlistment.
David Lewin Whitehouse Lance Corporal 2nd Royal Scots died 26 August 1914 aged 19. son of Annie Wakeling (nee Lewin)
Alfred Clark Private 1/5th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment died 12 August 1917 aged 26. Of New Street.
John Billings Private 1/5th Lincolns died 1 July 1917 aged 38. Of 14, Nottingham Road
Albert Billings Private 9th Leicesters died 25 September 1916 aged 31. Brother of John. Of 134, Sileby Road
Bernard Waring Private 2nd Leicesters died 11 March 1917 aged 19 son of James and Catherine
Frank Towe Private, 1st Leicesters died 4 June 1915 aged 33. Of 7, Cotes Road
Arthur Dilks Private 1st Leicesters died 15 September 1916 aged 31
James Ferrin Private Labour Corps died 15 February 1918 aged 47
William Ferrin Private 2/6th South Staffs died 17 February 1918 aged 19. Of 125, North Street and son of James
Harry Ferrin Private 1/5th Leicesters died 6 August 1918 aged 23. Of 125, North Street and son of James
Bertram Brown No further information as yet.
Does anyone have any photographs of Brunswick church that are not already on the Internet? Also if anyone has a recording of the organ that would be great 🙂
I was very interested in the paragraph about Corporal Neal and especially his first names. His sister, Ethel, was my grandmother and married Thomes Guilford Turlington. My late father, Thomas Reginald Turlington, was obviously named in Corporal Neals memory. It’s something I wasn’t aware of before.
I had great respect and fondness for FAJ. He tried teaching me history at CCGS but I failed to come up to standard. He preached at my chapel too, a lovely man.
Thanks for the opportunity. I write this with great appreciation to the Methodist Church for naming the Seminary after our maternal grandfather, the late Rev. Seth Molefi Mokitimi. Our mother is the only child and daughter of Seth and Grace Mokitimi.
I was a church member of Eastbrook hall from the age of 7. I was in the brownies, and the girl guides until I moved away in the late fifties. I went to morning services, Sunday school, and evening services every Sunday. I also attended junior guild. My love of classical music today is because of the wonderful organ recitals by Oliver Knapton who in my mind was unequalled in musical talent. Dr Maurice Barnett was my idol and I often wonder how his children developed in their lives. My life revolved around Eastbrook and the wonderful services and music are still with me today at the age of 82.,many miles away in Western Australia.
Have just found this site. I had the honour of having a Margaret and Maurice As my youth leaders back in the late 70’s early 70’s. We went to a Morley Methodist youth hostel in Guernsey twice with them. Also did a Wendy house at a service at the Albert Hall for MAYC weekend. On marrying (a member of the youth club) in 1975 we kept in touch and even used their cottage in Oxfordshire. My name then was Glynis Lloyd and I am now approaching 66 !
I have a copy of Methodist Church Buildings, as at July 1st 1940. Listed under Circuit 271. Keighley (West Lane) is West Lane, which had been a PM Stone built , 850 seater, two school hall, and it says 14 other rooms.
As a young preacher I took services here Great people they sang like a nest of birds and had a deep spirituality Thanks for good memories
Hm.. I dont recall a Methodist Church in West Lane Jayne. As organist at Lund Park early 60’s I had copies of the circuit preaching plans, and that one I dont remember !
Hi Brian, what about the Methodist church on West Lane?
This is a very long shot but at various times local newspapers ran regular reviews of church services on similar lines to their theatre reviews. It could be worth a search on the British Newspapers Archive site if all else fails.
Correction Rev Arnold Bellwood’s wife was Janet
Can anyone supply me with a detailed typical service with Hymn choices etc from around WWI era . I’m writing a novel and I’m really struggling to come up with this information. The chapel I am featuring in my novel is the one on Princess St that was bombed
I remember Rev Arnold Bellwood .I was a young child in PortTalbot during WWII..People loved him and the chapel was filled every Sunday .He had a bulldog named Bluebell …..it allowed her full name to be Blue Bell Woods . His daughter was my friend .I remember when he had to move on to his next placing everyone was heartbroken and the day he came back to visit the chapel was filled to overflowing ..His wife Jane had a wonderful voice and she would sing solo at each service ……something his Welsh congregation truly appreciated. His hero was Rev Donald Soper .
Christmas morning about 1964, the BBC broadcast live its Christmas morning service from Brunswick Methodist Chapel, possibly for the World Service. Our school choir, Lawnswood High School , was invited to lead the singing of the Christmas hymns. The choir’s conductor was Agnes Clayton , who had strong Methodist connections. Many of us choir members had some difficulty reaching the church from our homes in the suburbs , as there were no buses, being Christmas .I had never been in such a large church with upstairs seating before. At the time , many people who formerly lived in Little London were being rehoused by Leeds corporation on the edge of the city, so there were not many local people to swell the congregation. The part of the sermon I remember was the minister reaching out to his world wide audience my mentioning Millie, a Jamaican whose song My Boy Lollipop was currently in the top ten.
The late Reverend A Hanley Smith was the secretary of the Handsworth College Committee when he passed on February 11, 1949. He even spent 2 years of his ministry training at Handsworth. Do you have any photos of him? He was also the youngest son of Gipsy Rodney Smith, the Evangelist. He is a distant cousin of mine and I’m trying to find more photos of him.
In 1940 the accommodation consisted of a chapel measuring 80 feet by 43 feet and containing 400 sittings on the floor plus 100 in the gallery, all in pews, three halls, 60 feet by 29½ feet, 41½ feet by 24½ feet and 30½ feet by 18 feet and fourteen vestries and classrooms. There were two blocks of buildings separated by a road. The chapel on the south side of School Lane continues to be used as a Methodist place of worship. The Sunday school building on the north side existed as early as 1884 and was probably originally used in conjunction with the Silver Street chapel. Sources John Rylands Library University of Manchester, DDPD1/687 Methodist Church Buildings: Statistical returns including seating accommodation as at July 1st 1940 25 inch OS Northamptonshire XXV 10
I can remember playing football on and around the old burial ground I the 1960‘s it was in a poor state then with some graves unfortunately exposed and foxes had taken up residence I had often wondered until the present about the people buried there and their importance to the community. I can only commend the efforts people have made to retain this piece of Victorian Bilston and the conservation of the Church although I don’t live in the area any more I always hark back to these days of innocence with nostalgic fondness.
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