Sladebrook Evangelical Church

In October 2008, Sladebrook Evangelical Church marked its 50th anniversary at its present location in Englishcombe Lane, with an exhibition of memorabilia and old photographs unfolding the story of the church. This article presents a short history of Sladebrook Evangelical Church using texts and materials that were on display at the exhibition.

Entrance to Sladebrook Evangelical Church

Some time around 1902 a canvas tent was erected in the field where Southdown Junior School is now situated, and gospel meetings were led by an evangelist named Mr Fred Glover. Several people who lived locally became Christians. The tent was damaged beyond repair during a severe storm, but meetings continued in the home of Fred and Leah Bryant at 20 Mount Road.

By the summer of 1903 discussions were taking place as to the possible construction of a church building for this new group of Christians. Some people were in favour of the initiative but others were against. Feeling the increasing pressure of the situation, Mr Bryant wrote:

My position is not to be envied as I stand between those who wonder and urge forward and those seeking light that prayer and forethought may lead to no regret.

Aged only 23, Fred Bryant relied heavily upon advice from Dr Maclean of Manvers Hall. Mr Bryant and Thomas Wilcox built the Sladebrook Gospel Hall at Mount Road themselves, at a cost of £275, 9s, 9d. The church opened in February 1904. Ownership transferred to the Western Counties and South West Evangelisation Trust, and the congregation rented the building for £10 per year.

Left: The former Sladebrook Gospel Hall at Mount Road (today it is used as a workshop)
right: the Kerbside Corner Children's Services were held near Stirtingale Road in the 1950s

By the 1950s the Gospel Hall at Mount Road had become too small for all the adults and children who were part of that church. A couple of extensions had already been made but there was no more room to expand the building at the site. So land at Englishcombe Lane was purchased from the King family for the purpose of building a new church.

The cheapest option was to construct a prefabricated building but advice from Mr John W Laing led to plans for a permanent building. A contract for £7,377 was signed early in 1958 and the new church opened in October the same year. The name was changed to Sladebrook Evangelical Church soon after.

Interestingly, this plot of land had been occupied during the war by an Auxilliary Fire Service, which had set up base in the outbuildings of the old Sladebrook Farm. The firefighters were local volunteers who used an Austin motorcar to convey the water pump. They performed superbly during the Blitz, travelling as far as London and Birmingham to help out.

Left: the wartime Auxilliary Fire Service; right: the new church under construction in 1958

The new church continued to be a focal point for increasing numbers of people. By 1962 the Primary Sunday School was attended by nearly 40 children and 5 teachers, while the Main Sunday School had 80 children and 10 teachers. The Youth Fellowship averaged 20 on Saturdays and 30 to 40 on Wednesdays. The Bible Class had 20 regulars and the Women's meeting averaged 48.

Over the decades the church has organised many other regular groups, such as the Lighthouse Club, Young Wives, Parents and Toddlers, Covenanteers and JUCOS. It became necessary to add an upper storey in the 1970s and the porch area was reshaped in the 1990s.

Top left: people viewing the 2008 display; top right: toys used by the Mother and Toddlers Group
Bottom left: ASK football trophies; bottom right: some members knit woollens for the Third World

Sladebrook Evangelical Church's 50th anniversary celebration was intended not just as a look into the past, but as a showcase of present weekly activities. These include the Tuesday Fellowship, the Man 2 Man Men's Group, the Parent and Toddlers Group, the Refresh coffee morning, the ASK club for Culverhay boys and Frij - a monthly youth group.

The church has its own website which you can visit here. The website states that Sladebrook has always been a friendly church trying to serve the neighbourhood. Its members continues to believe that the Bible is God's Word and that it is relevant for today.