A Short History of Eltham Park Methodist Church

Eltham was a village in the mid 19th century when Sergeant Rudd, a serving soldier, stationed at the Woolwich Barracks preached in the local area and in 1838 secured funds from local people to buy a site just off Eltham High Street and build a small Methodist chapel. The original foundation stone can be seen in the entrance to our present Church. The chapel thrived for 20 years serving local people and many soldiers and their families. However by 1859 the soldiers were withdrawn to fight in the Crimea War and the Chapel was sold.

The turn of the century brought the railway and new homes for families. Methodism flourished one more and in 1902 the site of the present church was purchased and a small iron church built.

In April 1906 the Church was dedicated and the Church and Church room were used for regular worship and for a large Sunday school.

In 1923 2 more large halls were built for the ever growing Sunday school.

During these inter war years the Church was a hub for the local community with many social activities in addition to Sunday worship. There was a tennis club, Eltham Park players put on many productions, social clubs, weekend walks, Sunday school outings, and plays.

By 1980s the Sunday school halls were falling into disrepair and it was decided to sell part of the site for housing (Wesley Close) and build a new small hall. At the same time the inside of the Church was renovated to serve modern day needs and was re dedicated in November 1990.

Eltham Park Methodist Church continues to move forward and share our Christian faith with the people of Eltham.

Methodism came to Eltham in 1838

Methodism was brought to Eltham by Sergeant William Rudd of the Royal Artillery, Woolwich Barracks, he was a man of religious zeal who brought God’s work to the Army and wherever he was stationed.

In the late 1830s, when he was 60 years of age, he would walk to evangelise in the village of Eltham. He gathered together a group of Christians and by 1838 they were meeting as a Methodist Society in local houses.

They raised funds to build a small Methodist Chapel in Elizabeth Terrace off the High Street. The chapel was opened in 1840  and thrived until 1859. The soldiers went to the Crimean War and the Chapel was sold to the Bible Christian Connexion.

The building was later demolished and the foundation stone was retrieved from a local builders yard by Rev Ralph Bates in 1935 and can be seen in the vestibule. The first account and record books are on display.

1902  - A new beginning

With the coming of the Bexleyheath Railway the village of Eltham expanded . The development of the Corbett Estate brought many new  families to the area.

The newcomers included many Methodists (possibly attracted by the ‘no licensed premises’ rule on the estate). They gathered together in a Methodist Class meeting in the home of MR Johnson in Earlshall road. Eventually they raised £860 to purchase the site on Westmount Road between Earlshall and Elibank Roads and were able to build a temporary iron Church at the rear of the site.

The Iron Church

The original Iron Church was in Earlshall Road on the site of the present Vestry. When the Church was built it was moved to the Elibank Road side. The Tin Hut, as it became, had many uses including home to the Beginners Sunday School and the Boys Brigade. It was demolished in the 1960s

1905 The Church Room

Under the guidance of the Chairman of the District, Rev. Dr. Walford Green, and the leadership of the new minister, Rev J J Johnston, the new Church was planned and built. The Church room was opened and used for worship on September 10th 1904.

1906 The Church

On April 25th 1906 the Church was opened as the Walford Green Memorial Church dedicated to the memory of the District Chairman who had been instrumental in its building.
The Church cost £7500 to build and it was then the history of fund raising and Bazaars began at Eltham Park.
Bazaars were often grand events, lasting all day Friday and Saturday. Programmes for many of these are on display.

1912 - 1922

These were years of rapid expansion of the Church. Not only was the Corbett estate completed but the Hutments and the Progress estate were built for workers in the Woolwich Arsenal during the 1914-18 War.

The Church membership rose to 350 and its work expanded to meet the needs of the growing community.

The ‘Tin Hut’ was erected in 1916 for work among women war workers, led by a Sister Amy Yeo.  The Tin Hut later became home to Beginners Sunday School and the Boys Brigade.

The Sunday School of 20 became a large institution of over 400 children. Thus in 1920 plans were made for the building of the New School Premises, with yet more fundraising.
The Bazaar raised £1162, which cleared the debt on the Church and provided £700 for the new buildings.

The Sisterhood was founded on 1916 with the Ministers wife, Mrs Church as President.
The Women’s meeting grew to over 100 members by the 1930s. The women of the Sisterhood were the workers behind the fundraising and mission work during these years.

In the 1930s the President  was Lady Stamp. Her husband, Sir Josiah Stamp, had been elevated to the peerage for his work as an economist, statistician   and Chairman of the London School of Economics.

Lady Stamp is described a ‘ Christian social worker’ . Sisterhood garden parties were held at her home in the High Street. They moved away in the  late 1930s and were both killed in an air raid in 1941. She was remembered with great affection by the ladies of the Sisterhood. There is a plaque to her memory in the Church room.
In the  photograph of the Sisterhood, taken in Westmount Road in 1936, she is sitting in the centre of the front row.

The Sisterhood ceased to meet in the 1950s when its role was taken over by Womens Woks (WW) and then Network.

1922 – 1932

In 1923 the New School Premises were opened. Two halls, one with a raked floor and stage and small rooms were built where the new hall, car park and Wesley Court now stand, The cost was £500- and the debt was cleared by 1925.

The Church Organ, begun in 1907, was completed in 1927.

The Grand Empire Bazaar in May 1928 ran for 3 days.

These years were an era of full congregations, large choirs and enthusiastic all embracing social activities. Church life was for many the social, as well as the spiritual, focus of their lives.

Wesley Guild, Missionary meetings, Pageants, musical productions, Sunday school activities, tennis, football and badminton clubs were all in evidence at Eltham Park.

1932 –1942

Up until beginning of the Second World War in 1939 the Church continued to thrive. In 1938 the children and young people became more involved in morning worship by, as now, joining in the first part of the service.

The outbreak of War meant the break up of the Church Family. Evacuation and call up to the armed services scattered members far and wide.

The government requisitioned the Sunday school halls but Church life went on.
A forces canteen was provided and a study room for men on the nearby barrage balloon sites and from Woolwich Barracks.

1942 – 1952

During this period the Church Family provided support for everyone through the trauma of last years of the War and the difficulties of rebuilding lives and communities.

Along side regular worship social events continued with enthusiasm.  The Young Peoples Fellowship (YPF) providing study, socials and weekends away was a popular group. The Church Newsletter for 1949 notes that Peter Daone read the lesson at the Sunday School Anniversary.

In 1950 the Minister moved from the Manse in Lassa Road to 44 Westmount Road .

1951 saw yet another 3 day Bazaar. This time to pay for the restoration of the Church after the War.

The Church grew once again with many families moving to the area and the children of the post war baby boom filling the Sunday School and youth activities.

Eltham Park Players

EPP was a theatrical group formed by Mrs Masters in 1943 which performed regularly in the old Large hall until 1963. Productions were undertaken with professionalism and commitment and involved the  young and the not so young. Miss Joyce Walter was a leading light in the group both as an actress and director. She can be seen in many of the photographs.

In 1960 the group led by Gerry Lyon and Doug Pruden made 2 films. ‘Hands’ depicting  hands in Gods service.
‘The Nativity’ a full length film explaining the story of Christ Birth. This was filmed on location in Eltham, Petts Wood, a farm in West Peckham in Kent and the London Zoo.

Apparently the zoo visitors saw nothing unusual about Wise Men on camels and barely stopped to look! Making the films were great social events with the whole Church family decamping to the Farm for the weekend. Sadly the films have not survived but the memories remain particularly those of stubborn donkeys!

1952 –1962

A time of the Church family working together in faith and friendship. The new Elizabethan age, celebration of the Golden Jubilee, and a period of stability for the Church.

In 1953 a Remembrance Day Service was broadcast by the BBC. The bi-annual Good Friday performances of Messiah. The choir from this Church and the Circuit led by Jack Gray.

Women’s Work garden parties were held every summer in member’s gardens.

However Church finances were in trouble and a Stewardship campaign was launched. This enabled the congregation to understand the need for regular giving of money, time and talents.  Stewardship not only put the finances in better order but brought new families into the Church.

1962 – 1972

As a result of the Stewardship campaign it was decided to modernise the front of the Church and improve the halls. The choir stalls and apse were covered with a screen and the large central cross erected with a square communion area.

The adaptations to the halls required the Tin Hut to be demolished so the buildings could be linked together.  Improvements were made to the kitchen and there was a new meeting room and a coffee bar.

Youth work continued  with the formation of the Rif-Raf Youth Club, under the leadership of Reg Deadman. The young people continued the long tradition of sitting at the back of the gallery during evening service.

Target 90

The 1980s brought crisis to Eltham Park. The Church halls were subsiding and major work had to be undertaken. An ambitious plan was launched to redevelop the Church, demolish the old halls, sell some land  for Wesley Close and rebuild the new hall.

Target 90 was launched as the Fund raising committee and  a range of events were organised.  Gerald Brown proved to be adept as raising grants and loans from every direction. The rebuilding programme caused major upheaval and for many months we worshipped in the new hall. Despite it all the congregation grew once more.

The Youth club became Maggies Mob and young and old participated in many ‘entertainments’.  Church walks and socials became a feature of life at Eltham park once more.

We celebrated our 80th and 90th anniversaries, welcoming old friends to join us once again.

The 1990s

The decade of the Local Preachers

Following the rebuilding of the premises it was time to strengthen the preaching community.

The celebration in 1995 of Beth Sloane, Len Castleton and Walter Veale’s 60 years as local preachers reminded us it was time for new recruits. Soon after his appointment as Superintendent minister in1993, Wesley Cooke began a training programme for Local Preachers. 

This has been highly successful with Ethel Wymer, Garry Young and Peter Ingram from Eltham Park becoming Local Preachers in 1998. Followed by Alex Terrett in 2004 and Debbie Smith now in training. Alex is about to commence training for the ministry.

Guides, Brownies and Rainbows

Girlguiding has been part of Eltham Park since 1918.  Despite some organisational changes over the years we are still the 1st Royal Eltham North, reflecting our early beginnings in Eltham.

A leadership crisis in 1963 led to the ministers wife, Mrs Rachel Hollinghurst and her dog, leading  the Guide company.

Rainbows and Brownies continue to flourish with  full  groups of girls and long waiting lists. Guides has fewer girls but they continue to meet regularly and enjoy a wide range of activities.

22nd West Kent Boys Brigade

The BB was formed in 1954 by Sid Hewitt, supported by Rev Bert Noel.  During the next 20 years the BB grew into a successful company.
They occupied the ‘Tin Hut’, had a marching band, gymnastics team, produced a regular magazine ‘ruBBish’ and went on regular camps. They held a Bible Class full of boys every Sunday morning before Service.

Many local young men pay credit to the support and guidance given by BB and particually by Sid & Margaret Hewitt.

The Company continues with fewer boys but still provides fun, friendship and Christian teaching  to the Anchors, Juniors and Seniors.

J M A - Junior Mission for All

For 50 years JMA has provided an opportunity for the young people of Eltham Park to raise funds for Missions at home and overseas.  In the early years the collectors had books in which they recorded the weekly donations. These were paid in every week to the Secretary, Ethel Wymer, queuing round the large kitchen table, hoping the money added up correctly. There were also outings to the Mission House and Westminster Central Hall.

The  young people currently collecting for JMA have yellow collecting boxes and every year raise over £500. At the annual award ceremony they receive a rainbow badge for every year.

2002 - Eltham Park celebrates its centenary

The 2002 celebrations went on all year and involved special services, visit from the President of the Conference, The Messiah, social activities and a Centenary dinner. Many past members and old friends travelled across the country to join us for the Anniversary services in May.

2009 & onwards

These photographs of the Church Family taken over the last 15 years show us to be  a mixed group of all ages, backgrounds  and interests, probably not very different from the Methodists of Eltham who started the Church 107 years ago.

The Church family continues Gods work in this Church and Community.  As we look to how the church grows and moves forward and serves the local community the Methodists of Eltham Park know they are  supported by Gods love in faith and  commitment.

Weekly meetings
- Brotherhood Orchestra
- Boys Brigade
- Rainbows
- Brownies
- Guides

Monthly meetings
- Second Tuesday
- House Groups
- Lunch Club

Junior Church

Sunday School, now Junior Church, has always been part of life at Eltham Park and has brought generations of young people into the Christian faith.  The days of 400 children at huge Sunday School anniversary events with smartly turned out children reading, singing and performing Bible stories are past.

Children are no longer ‘sent’ to Sunday School. Smaller numbers now come with their own family and develop and grow in their faith within the wider Church Family at Eltham Park. They continue to take an active role in our worship and performed a disco version of the Wedding at Cana for the President of the Conference when she visited in January 2002.