I’m continuing to share the Gerald Reece photos (and it’s really hard to spin them out but there’s some astounding stuff in the queue, let me assure you!) and today there’s a small gallery of images of local places of worship that Gerald shared with David Evans when they met up at Gerald’s 80th birthday walk a couple of weeks ago.
Thing this is the Gospel Hall, School Avenue, now a private house. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
Some information on the Gospel Hall here.
Silver Street Methodist, still looking quite new in the 1980s. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
You can see more of Silver Street’s construction in this set by Roy Craddock by clicking here.
There’s also a great set of the same construction by Fred Booth – click here.
St. James, as it was best, before the hideous extension. A lovely church really with an interesting, unusual spire. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The Excelsior, an often overlooked church in Brownhills High Street before renovation. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
Edit thanks to Martin Littler: This is actually The Calvary Pentecostal Church in Brickiln Street. My apologies! I think this was Park View, on the corner of the A5 and Howdles Lane – but welcome correction. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
Lots of Park View memories – click here.
Detail of Mount Zion, that used to stand in the High Street about where Kwik Fit is now. A remarkably dark, Auster building. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
Wider view of Mount Zion: Note the imposing Bellcote. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
St Thomas Mission Church on the Parade was featured last week, but belongs in this set. A lovely church, it was demolished in the early 1970s. Image kindly supplied by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
I’m sure these will kick off discussion, so grab suitably fitting cup of tea in a nice china cup, sit down, and remember when Brownhills had as many religious buildings as pubs!
What do you recall from this gallery? If you have any thoughts or questions, please do share them – comment here, find me on social media or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
I thank Gerald and David for this remarkable set – it really is most excellent and for me personally has stirred many memories.
The donor of these remarkable images, Gerald Reece is of course a talented and superlative local historian, indeed now resident in Devon, who wrote the seminal work ‘Brownhills – A walk into history’ upon which this blog stands.
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The one you think is Park View Chapel, is the one up Brickiln Street Calvary Church .
Dang it. Hasty edit in 3… 2… 1..
Thanks!
Bob
Went to the youth club in st Thomas mission on the parade, many moons ago!
is the one in bricklin where dr forsters surgery was grate photos loads of memories of my old brownhills when these chapels and churches had full pews at this time of the year when all was safely gathered in
No Reg, Dr Forsters Surgery is now the Hillmans Vets, the church is just above the old Library as was, as you say Reg you have seen some changes in your lifetime, but it always nice to hear from you of our History in Brownhills.
My Grandad Jack Ditchfield was a lay preacher at the Gospel Hall in School road and we attended Sunday school here until we moved to Hednesford in 1959.
If jack ditchfield was your grandad was joe your dad or his brother I delivered the papers to jack when he lived in pelsall rd my mom played piano in the chapel in school avenue and clay hanger rd gospel hall cheers
i spent many happy hours at the gospel hall as a lad and still remember mr ducket mr heath miss scott as she was then mr craddock and yes even today i often sing to myself the chorases i was tuaht there OH HAPPY DAYS
Hi Reg, Old friend and fellow Brethrenite ! I followed a similar path in my younger days, but at the House of Prayer, Walsall Wood, both Assembles being part of the Christian Brethren. The names you mentioned awakened my own early memories, Jack Duckett, yes, a main man at School Avenue. Mr. Heath became a St. John first aider in the war, giviing lessons around the Assemblies. Miss Scott married Arnott Craddock and moved to Camden Street, Walsall Wood, your loss was our gain, a lovely couple, dedicated Christians. Talking about the Choruses, ours at Walsall Wood must have been the same as yours at School Avenue. Some years ago, I made a recording of ever hymn and chorus I could remember from the 1930’s, with my mediocre organ playing. David Evans may posses a copy. If interested, contact him. if not, If i can rummage around looking for my copy, if found I will let you have one. Best Wishes.
The Walsall Wood inhabitants are quite unable, from their poverty, to contribute otherwise than in the most trifling degree to their Church, and hence also the need of so large an appropriation of free sittings as one fourth of the whole number. An appeal therefore is most earnestly made to those who, as stewards of God’s Bounty, shall be willing to give of their substance, so as to provide for these their poor brethren “that meat which endureth unto everlasting life”.
Contributions received at all Walsall Banks
Staffs Advertiser September 1836
I lived just up the road from Watling St school at 118 Watling St it was once the Lamb inn , my gran had chip shop mrs Parker.
I remember Mrs Parker and the Fish and Chip shop in the early 1950’s ,me and my Mother use to go and visit her and of coarse she use to go to Park View Chapel, she was a big Friend of my Aunty Harriet Dennis, i was only a young Lad in those Days.
Lovely to look back on our history really appreciate the hard work put in to it
We live on Chapel Avenue and have often wondered if there was any information of images relating to the naming of Chapel Avenue. Where was the chapel?