Thundersley Methodist Church
Its History and Growth
Almost 90 years ago Thundersley Methodist Church had its beginnings. In the kitchen of the farm owned by Mr. and Mrs. Dear, a group of people had been meeting together for prayer and praise. In conversation with a local Methodist, Mr. George Brittain, it was agreed there was a need for a non-conformist church in the area. Mr. Brittain had bought land near Tarpots Corner and named the areas Lambeth Avenue and Kennington Avenue, after the area of London he came from. He loaned a marquee, with chairs and a harmonium, and the first service was held in May 1924. These dedicated people gathered together in often dreadful conditions, lit only by oil and hurricane lamps, the harmonium often standing in a pool of water and their chairs sinking in the ground, but they persevered and stood fast, and became known as the ‘little church in the field’.
As the congregation grew, the decision was made to build a permanent church. Concerts and events were held, and with help from other Churches at last the great stone laying day arrived. At the opening service some months later, the preacher Rev. Arthur Sharp took for his text ‘I am proud of the Gospel’. These words were later emblazoned on the wall at the back of the pulpit. (see photo)
The Church continued to prosper, the Sunday School grew, even a tennis court was laid out. Eventually it was realised more room was needed, and an extension was built on the site of the tennis court, which was named the Hall of Youth. (see photo).
Numbers fluctuated with the years, Thundersley was still very rural with mostly unmade roads, which often made attendance difficult. A new housing estate built nearby in the 1930’s bought new families. Later, the war years brought new difficulties, as children were evacuated to Wales. Strangely, children from London came to Thundersley – A charming selection of photographs from the 1930’s is shown here.
In the 1940’s to 1950’s, in a small room named the Messenger Room after a former church member, the Tarpots Library was housed at the Church, but with few books, and it only opened for a short time each week.
In the 1980’s new housing in the form of flats were to be developed on the site of the old Standard Telephone and Cable factory in Kennington Avenue. Thundersley Church was now over 60 years old and in poor repair, and the decision was made to demolish it and build a new church. This was a huge undertaking and leap of faith for a small Church of only 30 to 40 members. But an architect (Bernard Gooding) was appointed and it was eventually agreed on a timber framed building which, with necessary extras, would cost £160,000, and take six months to build. A celebration service was held in the old Church on May 8th 1990, with many shared memories of the last 65 years. The final service was on May 12th 1990, and demolition began the next day. A temporary home was found at the Salvation Army Hall in London Road, but there would be many problems to face. It would be much longer, and at a final cost of £200,000, before we could at last worship in our new Church (see photo). The first service was on May 9th 1993, and was attended by over 90 people. The official opening and dedication was on May 29th 1993. Mention should be made here of the then minister, Rev. Robert Richards, for all the love and encouragement given through difficult times.
It is good to remember all the work, praise and worship of earlier Thundersley Methodists, and all the help both financial, practical and spiritual, received from so many over the years.
We thank God that we were led in this way and ask his blessing on all we do in his name as we go forward to celebrate our 90th anniversary in 2014.
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