South Chadderton Methodist Church - History Of Our Church

EDWARD STREET METHODIST CHURCH

The rural development of the Coppice and Freehold areas in the 1850's prompted the friends at Union Street New Connexion church to commence a work in the Werneth area. Three houses were being built on a site in Windsor Road, and in 1850 two of those houses were rented for use as a church and Sunday school.

The premises became too small for the growing congregation and a piece of land at the junction of Manchester Road and Edward Street owned by a church member, Thomas Norton J.P was made available to the friends for the purpose of building a church. Despite wrangling over whether the building would be used as a church or Sunday school, a compromise was reached for a two storey building that looked like a one storey structure, with the ground floor for the Sunday school and the upper floor as a church. The foundation stone was laid on the 29th March 1861 and the church opened for worship on the 13th November 1861.

In 1872 a separate building was erected on Oxford Street (to the rear of the church) for use as a Sunday school. Work was then undertaken to remove the floor to make a single storey structure. Problems with the fittings were not resolved until 1892 when fabric and furnishings were eventually harmonized.

In 1907 the New Connexion merged with the Bible Christians and United Free Methodist churches to form the United Methodist church.

In December 1954, Brunswick church, which was less than 500 metres from Edward Street, closed and the members joined with Edward Street.

The church became a strong witness serving the communities of Werneth, Freehold and Coppice for 117 years, but with the changing face of the area and the state of the fabric, the church closed and last service was held in August 1967.


	EDWARD STREET METHODIST CHURCH The rural development of the Coppice and Freehold areas in the 1850's prompted the friends at Union Street New Connexion church to commence a work in the Werneth area. Three houses were being built on a site in Windsor Road, and in 1850 two of those houses were rented for use as a church and Sunday school. The premises became too small for the growing congregation and a piece of land at the junction of Manchester Road and Edward Street owned by a church member, Thomas Norton J.P was made available to the friends for the purpose of building a church. Despite wrangling over whether the building would be used as a church or Sunday school, a compromise was reached for a two storey building that looked like a one storey structure, with the ground floor for the Sunday school and the upper floor as a church. The foundation stone was laid on the 29th March 1861 and the church opened for worship on the 13th November 1861. In 1872 a separate building was erected on Oxford Street (to the rear of the church) for use as a Sunday school. Work was then undertaken to remove the floor to make a single storey structure. Problems with the fittings were not resolved until 1892 when fabric and furnishings were eventually harmonized. In 1907 the New Connexion merged with the Bible Christians and United Free Methodist churches to form the United Methodist church. In December 1954, Brunswick church, which was less than 500 metres from Edward Street, closed and the members joined with Edward Street. The church became a strong witness serving the communities of Werneth, Freehold and Coppice for 117 years, but with the changing face of the area and the state of the fabric, the church closed and last service was held in August 1967.