Serving Christ in the Community of Crookes
WESLEY
HALL
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Serving Christ in the Community of Crookes
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This is the story of the Methodist Church in Crookes, from its beginnings as a small chapel, through the building of a large Mission Hall, the later decline in numbers and then the Spiritual Re-awakening in 1989 bringing us to where we are now.
The Beginning of Our Journey The first building in which Methodists in Crookes met for worship was built in 1836. It was known as the Crookes Wesleyan Chapel, and is still standing on School Road – it is now the Roman Catholic Church. The Chapel had to be enlarged and re-developed several times as the work of the church grew. But it was still too small. Finally, in 1907 the foundation stones were laid for a completely new building, on a new site, that could accommodate up to 1000 people – Wesley Hall. The Hippodrome Some photographs survive of the building work in progress. The builders were Thomas Roper & Sons, who also built a number of houses in the Crookes area. The architect, Mr W. J. Hale, departed from the traditional ‘chapel’ style and designed the church as a modern Mission Hall. As one reported noted: “Wesley Hall looks more like the Hippodrome that a place of worship. And one is thankful for it … The design has been the rather novel one of building a church in which the congregation should be able, without straining the neck, to hear and see the preacher from all points, and at the same time to do so under conditions of absolute comfort and health … it is preeminently a place to worship in, to breathe and be glad in.” The tip-up seats were another novel feature – “more comfortable than many a dining room arm chair”. But there were not enough seats for everyone at the Opening Services on Thursday June 18th, 1908. Around 1,100 people squeezed into the new Hall to hear the Pastor, Rev C. Ensor Walters, proclaim: “This church stands for something more than Methodism; it stands for Christ.” The decision to build a new church was not just based on the need for more accommodation. It marked the beginning of a new phase in the church’s mission to the people of Crookes. Since the Wesleyan Chapel was first built in 1836, Crookes had been transformed from a village into a densely populated suburb. There were now many people in the district who never went to church. The vision for Wesley Hall was that it would be a place “to which the people may come without pew rents or let or hindrance – a church where rich and poor, ignorant and cultured, would all be welcomed, and the Christian cause would be exalted.” Rev. Ensor Walters came to Wesley Hall from a similar Mission situation in London. He threw himself into the work with great energy, supported by a dedicated body of church members, and the years before the 1914 – 18 war were a remarkable period in the history of Wesley Hall. The Sunday evening service was the great event of the week. Even with over 1000 sears the church was full, and occasionally people had to be turned away. Over 500 also attended the Men’s Meeting on Sunday afternoons, which was an important means of outreach. An Open Air Service was held outside Wesley Hall every Monday. The church also provided entertainment in the form of concerts and film shows at its Popular Saturday Evenings. The Sunday School was over 500 strong, and during this period a Company of the Boys Brigade was started at Wesley Hall. “Behind all this success” Rev Ensor Walters wrote in 1909 “is the prayer of a believing and faithful people … Let it be emphasised – the basis of our work is Spiritual.” He also emphasised the friendship and unity which existed between Wesley Hall and the other Crookes churches. Great War In 1919 a Memorial Service was held for the 62 former members or associates of Wesley Hall who had lost their lives in the “Great War”. The war and its aftermath brought many changes, but the work at Wesley Hall continued. In 1931 a programme of Special Events was launched under the slogan “Wesley Hall, Crookes – For White-Hot Christianity and Whole-Hearted Comradeship”. The great concern was still to reach more people in Crookes. “We can look back on great days,” the minister wrote in the Special Events leaflet: “But we look forward to greater. We need the inspiration of fresh faces, the enthusiasm of fresh minds. If no other Church claims you, come to Wesley Hall on Sunday next, and sit where you please. You will find yourself in the midst of friends. It was during the 1920’s that the hymn “Captain of Israel’s Host and Guide” first became known as Wesley Hall’s “national anthem”. Music has always played an important part in the life of the church, but before 1928 services were accompanied by the piano only. In 1928, however, a brand new organ was installed. It was named “The Nicholson Memorial Organ” in memory of Mr Richard Nicholson, a local steel manufacturer who had been one of Wesley Hall’s most active and devoted workers for over 50 years – first in the old Chapel, then in the new Hall. The old Chapel on School Road had not been abandoned since 1908, but had been refurbished and dedicated to the Sunday School work. That the Sunday School should have a whole building to itself does not seem extravagant when one considers that in 1927 there were over 800 children on the Roll, and the average attendance on Sunday afternoons was around 550. Golden Jubilee The life of the church continued to flourish after the Second World War, and in 1958 Wesley Hall celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the Opening in 1908. When the last service was held in Crookes Wesleyan Chapel, in 1908, many of the members felt sad, remembering all that had taken place there. “Our hearts were full of affection for the old Chapel,” Richard Nicholson wrote. “We had seen the fathers and mothers and, later on, there sons and daughters at the Communion rail, seeking mercy and, thank God, finding it. We had seen tears of joy running down faces, when men were coming to Christ, and, talk about singing, it seemed almost a wonder sometimes that we did not lift the roof.” As we celebrate our move, we too have much to remember and be thankful for from the history of Wesley Hall. We remember particularly all those friends and former members who served faithfully over the years but are now no longer with us. Self-sacrifice As we think ahead, perhaps we should also remember what was said by the preacher, Rev. W. J. Barkell, at the closing service in School Road in 1908: He warned the congregation at Crookes not to exalt themselves because they were going into a more beautiful building than the old chapel which they had used for so many years. “If we are to attract people to Jesus Christ,” he said, we shall attract not by the beautiful building, not by the mere extraneous aids to the service, but we shall attract by adopting the self-sacrificing spirit of Jesus Christ, by sacrificing ourselves for others…. A Coming Together The 1960’s nearly saw the closure of Wesley Hall. It closure and merger with St Luke’s was seriously discussed. The 1970’s saw a continuation in the numerical decline of our congregation. The main Church Building was abandoned and the Rev Albert Ball led the Church to worship in Brice Hall. The last service in the large hall was held on 27 December 1970. The 1980’s saw the closure of our sister Methodist Church at St Luke’s. The congregation at St Luke’s entered into a Local Ecumenical Project with the members of the United Reformed Church on Springvale Road, to form Christ Church Crookes. However, in 1988, Christ Church closed. The Baptist Church on Mulehouse Road also closed and joined with St Thomas’s in a Local Ecumenical Project. Throughout this sometimes traumatic period, however, God’s love remained constant and the solution which could not be imposed in the 1960’s – namely, the joining together of the Methodist Churches in Crookes – was brought about in God’s time. The coming together of Christ Church and Wesley Hall, together with friends who joined us from St Luke’s and Crookes Baptist Church, brought about a joyous union with rich blessings. Principles It is said that life demands movement and so does growth. When we stop moving on we start slipping back. For Christians there is always more growing to do. Wesley Hall has not stood still. You can plots it journey by looking at the signs of God’s work within the Church over the last few years. We thank God for the guidance given by our Ministers throughout this time. Each has been able to provide the appropriate support at the appropriate time: again a sign of God at work amongst us. In November 1987 the Rev Gordon Wilson led our congregation in a Saturday workshop when we reflected on our Church, it’s mission and the community of Crookes. Out of this meeting cam certain principles that we have continued to try to apply, namely:
The late 1980’s up to the present day have seen the growth of the congregation at Wesley Hall both numerically and spiritually. Following on from our earlier Saturday workshop we have realised that from time to time the whole Church needs to consider its mission. In November 1990 we spent a Sunday afternoon with Haydn Veitch of the Methodist Stewardship Organisation, exploring “Sharing in Cod’s Mission”. This was followed up in December 1990 when Rev Bryan Rippin the then Chairman of the Sheffield District, led us in a follow-up on this theme. We established an Action Group to look in more detail at what we thought was God’s vision for us at Wesley Hall. The group brought forward proposals under the headings of Worship, the Local Church Community and Mission. Worshipping Worshipping God is the central activity at Wesley Hall. The number of people worshipping on a Sunday has grown, with growth coming from all ages including young couples and children. We expect new people to come through the door each Sunday. In the early and mid 90’s we regularly held Power, Praise and Celebration Services. It was during this time that a group of our younger members held their own alternative service of worship WHAS (Wesley Hall Alternative Service). This was a multi-media service using computer technology and at times it was very loud. The Redevelopment Building for the Future Perhaps the biggest miracle we have experienced in recent years is when God enabled us to reclaim our main Church which for 20 years had been leased first as a stationery warehouse and then as a second hand furniture auction room. In 1989 the Church Council was authorised to review the accommodation requirements of the Church, in light of the
A miracle then happened, a very ordinary Methodist Church undertook a redevelopment scheme which cost over £1/2 million. A giant step of faith and God blessed us by providing the money. The building work commenced in January 1992 and was completed in September 1992. What’s Happening Now God has been and still is being good to his people at Wesley Hall. For the some years we have been home to the Sheffield Korean Church. A union that has brought us many blessings. A past minister, Chris van Staden was from South Africa. Before Christmas 2000 he was approached by a Church in Richmond in Natal, South Africa, who were seeking assistance to construct a kitchen to help feed 70 orphan children. Richmond suffered during the troubles and the local people could not raise the necessary money. That Christmas we were able to send £1000 to help the folk at Richmond.and the work at Richmond went from strength to strength. Continuing our international theme, our next minister, Robert Lewis, came from Richmond in Virginia, for a year's exchange. Now, we are looking forward to celebrating our Centenary over the next two years (from stone laying to opening!) |
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