A History of Tamworth Methodism
From 1771 - 1972
Central Methodist Church
would like to thank Michael Green and the Rev. David Juliano for the
information here. Much of it is taken from “A Charge To Keep” written by David,
an American, while a Minister here in Tamworth.
The first
“Methodist” to visit Tamworth was none other than John
Wesley himself! Following the
notorious Wednesbury riots in 1743, he made his way to Tamworth where there were
sympathisers of the movement commenced by him.
It was not, however, until 1771 that there is the first recorded visit
of Methodist preachers to the town.
There was no chapel and they met with others in the home of Samuel and
Ann Watton. Numbers grew and the
Wattons’ home became too small and by January 1794 the Methodist Society had
moved to a small building in Bolebridge Street.
In 1787 John Wesley had met the first Sir Robert Peel whose
family was to have such a great impact on the town. As a result of this connection, he was
sympathetic to an appeal from Methodists for a site for a permanent
chapel. He granted them a licence to use
a plot of land in Bolebridge Street along with exhortation “My lads, do not
build your chapel too large. People
would like to go to a little chapel well filled better than a large one half
full.” On 15th July 1794 the
chapel was opened.
The chapel was clearly not “too large”
for by 1815 it had become inadequate.
Sir Robert agreed to long lease the existing site and adjoining land and
in 1816 a new and larger chapel constructed at the cost of £1000 was opened.
In the mid 19th
century a split occurred in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which lead to the
formation of the Free Methodists. Families, notably the Wattons, felt the future
of their faith lay with them and they left the Bolebridge Street Chapel, at
first meeting in a room nearby, before acquiring a room in Aldergate which was
affectionately known as “The Hut.”
Both Societies
continued to flourish and like the first chapel in Bolebridge Street the second
one also became inadequate, and in the 1870’s it was decided to build a new
one. In 1877 a plot of land on the
corner of Victoria Road and Back Lane (later to 
become Mill Lane) comprising almost
1000 square yards, was donated by Thomas Argyle, the treasurer and a local
solicitor. On 21st May 1877,
memorial stones were laid for what would become the Wesleyan Temple. This “being the most appropriate and truthful
designation for God’s own house” wrote Ezekial Burton, the resident
minister. The next landmark was the
“topstone service” or “topping out” ceremony held on 28th November
1877 when the choir mounted the scaffolding and sang hymns and the “Hallelujah
Chorus.” The final one was the opening
on 9th April 1878. The Temple
had been constructed as a cost of £4307 2s 6d which had been raised by
subscriptions, services and bazaars. One
stall realised £123 – a considerable sum in those days! The Sunday School continued to use Bolebridge
Street Chapel until the schoolrooms were constructed in 1898 at which stage the
old chapel was sold to Woodcocks’ Printers and used by them for many years.
In the late 19th century the
Free Methodists felt that The Hut did not fulfil the needs of the ever-growing
congregation. A plot of land was
available in Aldergate and purchased for £250.
The memorial stones were laid at Easter 1886. Instead of inscribing the names on the stones
themselves, leaving them to be erased by the elements, they were instead
engraved on a brass plaque, which can still be seen today in the entrance to
the Church. By late summer 1886, the
building had been completed, resplendent with bell tower at a cost of £2250 (a
more modest affair than The Temple) and was opened for worship on 29th
September 1886. In 1907 the Free
Methodists became United Methodists. In
1933 the United, Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Churches became one Methodist
Church, but it was many years before this became a reality in the Town Centre.
In the 1960’s
the congregation at Victoria Road was joined by families from the Bolebridge
Street Mission which had sadly closed. Representatives of two of these families
attend Central today. For a history of the Mission click here
For many years
a bomb had been ticking away at Victoria Road Methodist Church (as it had
become known). Serious defects had
become apparent and the costs of remedying them were far beyond the resources
of the Church. In early 1972 the
sorrowful but correct decision to close and amalgamate with Aldergate was taken
and the building, which could seat 600 on the ground floor and around the oval
balcony, waited for its future to be determined. The magnificent Victorian edifice of the
Church was preserved and at first accommodated squash courts before finally
flats. The schoolroom was demolished and
a fitness centre now occupies its site.
From 1972 to date
The combined congregations became known as Central Methodist
Church. Following amalgamation, it became quite clear that the premises in
Aldergate were inadequate for the needs of the new congregation. The Church
faced East to West with the members facing the pulpit and organ. Two doors from
the rear upper schoolroom gave access to the choir stalls. It was impossible to
extend laterally so it was decided to extend vertically.
The fixed pews and floorboards were removed by the members. For
grant purposes this voluntary labour was assessed at £2000. The ground level
was excavated to a depth of some 4 feet and a concrete mezzanine floor put in
so that the area above became the “new” Church with the congregation now facing
East with the Organ on the West now behind it. The old pulpit from the former
Congregational Church became Central’s “new” pulpit and one of the former doors
to the old choir stalls became another entrance to the worship area. A lift was
installed. The side entrance became the main one and from the vestibule a stair
case was constructed to gain access to the “new” first floor Church.
The total cost was approximately £59,000 over half of which came
from Grants from the Joseph Rank Benevolent Trust and the Division of Property.
The Church was re-opened by the Secretary of the Trust, Paul Bartlett Young, on
16th September 1978. The re-opening was followed by a Service of re-dedication
led by the Chairman of the District, the Rev. Christopher Hughes Smith.
The Future
Whilst the 1978 alterations sufficed to satisfy the needs of the new
Church it became apparent at the end of the Millennium that they would not
satisfy those of a serving and caring one situated at the centre of a Town with
a population in excess of 70,000. The premises were physically unwelcoming, the
toilet facilities left much to be desired and there was no disabled access to
the Lower Schoolroom.
Groundworks, architects of Nottingham, were asked to undertake a
Feasibility Study as to how these shortcomings (and others of a more minor
nature) could be overcome. The Study was financed by a grant from the
Coalfields Regeneration Trust. For
information on the proposed building works and alterations click here
Sunday School
The history of the Sunday School in the post war years shows an important
aspect of Methodism’s ministry in Tamworth.
Following the Second World War, parents were determined that
their children would grow up in a better world and so, while they themselves
might not consider entering a church or chapel themselves, they were insistent
that their children should receive a Christian education. As a result they sent
their children to Sunday School. Like children following a pied piper, score
upon score would follow Sunday School Superintendent, “Jack” King from the
“new” estate at Bolehall to the Sunday School at Victoria Road as it had become
known - the name “Temple” had long since fallen into disuse. Though fewer in
number, they would also follow Harry Baker to Aldergate.
On normal Sundays, the children would assemble in the main
Sunday School room sat in rows with the teacher at the end facing the
Superintendent who would open with a prayer and an address. There would be
singing from the Sunday School Hymnal before the children went off to their
classes. Such was the premium on space that every nook and cranny was used –
even the kitchen! Such also was the demand for teachers that often promising
youngsters aged only 14 or 15 were asked to take classes!
The main highlight of the Sunday School year was the Anniversary
held in June. The platform erected in front of the pulpit held upwards of 100
children and the choir stalls were filled with older scholars and teachers. The
Church was crammed with adoring mothers and fathers. aunts and uncles and elder
brothers and sisters who had come to listen to the singing, recitations, duets
and solos.
The picture was much the same at Aldergate although it had less
scholars. The platform here was in two parts on either side of the pulpit.
Anniversaries continued following the amalgamation in 1972 and following the
extensive alterations in 1978 a new platform was constructed.
Much hard work went into the choice of hymns and those with the
responsibility were fortunate that, from the 1970’s, many new songs became
available which were sung for the first time by the children before becoming
established favourites in our hymn and song books. Some examples are
Tell
out my soul
Come
and join the celebration (with the words altered)
Seek
ye first the kingdom of God
Praise
Him, Praise Him
Give
me joy in my heart
Make
me a channel of your peace
The atmosphere and excitement of Anniversaries is faithfully
captured in the following poem by Colin Robey.
We practised
hard both day and night
To
get the songs and poems right
For
this the children’s day of days
When
trained young voices join in praise
The
mums and dads sit there so proud
As
words come out, but not so loud
It’s
hard reciting to a crowd
They
didn’t practice with all those folk
And
nerves bring some to nearly choke
Upon
their words as they do their best
To
overcome this awesome test
It
started earlier in the morn
They
got up at the crack of dawn
New
suit trousers yet to press
And
for the girls a lacy dress
A
day of special atmosphere
For
older folk perhaps a tear
As
they think back to days gone by
When
they stood on that platform high
And
sang out in the morning sun
The
anniversary had begun
Folk
return on this great day
Some
come from near and far away
Who
left this place a while ago
Now
meet with friends they used to know
A
day of pleasure and great joy
Of
happiness that n’er will cloy
We
sit and wait what seems an age
As children
rustle on the stage
In
wait to entertain the throng
With
poems, rhymes, and sweet, sweet songs
Afternoon
gives way to night
The
younger ones have lost the fight
With
happy thoughts to fill their heads
The’re
tucked up safely in their beds
The
evening service passes on
Once
more the day of days has gone
It’s
not as bad as we may fear
There’ll
always be the one next year
And
soon again our friends we’ll meet
As
we go off on the Sunday School treat
Yes, the treat was another highlight! In the early days these
were locally based, for example, perhaps a trip along the canal on Samuel
Barlow’s barges. From the 1950’s onwards, they became more ambitious with as
many as 10 Bunty buses to take everyone to Wickstead Park or Rhyl which was
often a child’s first view of the sea. Later, trains were chartered from
British Rail.
The remaining highlight was the Autumn Fayre with the choosing
of the Sunday School Queen to welcome everyone.
Central
Methodist Church
as
it was prior to a
facelift
in 1999….
…..and
as it is today
An Historical Photograph Archive is in the course of preparation.
