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BILLERICAY METHODIST CHURCH |
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History of the church |
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In the early 20th century, few people had heard of obscure Billericay until one eventful night during World War I (1914-18). A German Zeppelin airship was brought down on the outskirts and the village was thrown into the limelight. With the ending of war there was huge demand for new homes and Billericay became a happy hunting ground for builders, because of its high elevation and beautiful surroundings, By the 1920s, the population had reached 5,000 and was still increasing rapidly. The problem of caring for the spiritual needs of the new people of the area was seen to be acute and urgent. So three Methodist families hired the Women's Institute hall and started a church. Soon after, they bought a site in Western Road and began the first stage (a school room) of the church's building development. The church was opened on 1st May 1926 and it cost £2,200. At last―a church building It was nearly forty years before the next stage was completed when the church building itself was constructed and opened for worship. At the dedication service on 16th April 1964, an address was given by the Rev Dr Leslie Newman, a great Methodist preacher and former minister of this church. Mr John Pollard (treasurer at the time and member of the church until his death in 2006) reported at the opening that the total building cost was £25,300, of which £3,461 had been raised locally. £14,040 came from compensation for war damage to Methodist premises at West Ham. Continued growth Pressure on space encouraged the church to expand its buildings to better serve its weekday activities, particularly those for children and young people. In October 1973, a new large hall replaced the original 1926 school room. At this time as Billericay grew rapidly, so did church numbers and overcrowding at Sunday services became a serious problem. A shift system was proposed, and in 1985 two morning family services replaced the single service. Changing times
Numbers attending Sunday worship at the original Western Road site, in common with most mainstream denomination churches, have declined since the 1980s, and the church reverted to a single morning service in 2004. Fewer children and young people attend church on Sunday, but weekday organisations are thriving and numbers are constrained only by shortages of adult leaders. |
Founder members still going strong Eva Wood and Doris Powell are survivors of the church's original 1926 congregation.
They are two of the nine children of Edwin & Clara Powell who, with two other families, helped form the Methodist society in Billericay and construct its first church building. Both were born here and baptised in the temporary premises used before the church opened, and they have lived in the town ever since. The church has been at the centre of their family's life. They recall that the new congregation quickly grew to 60-70, remained stable until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 but dipped after many of its men left for war service. After the war, Billericay experienced a housing boom and the church numbers increased dramatically. Eva and Doris gave their time and talents in service to the church, and they continue to do so today. They are particularly proud of their service in the wider community—Doris led the local cadet division of the St John Ambulance Brigade for 26 years and Eva has actively supported the Methodist Church's mission to homeless people in the east end of London. Women such as Eva and Doris have been the backbone of church life—born into Christian families, living within one community, faithfully worshipping at church week by week, and using it as their base for service to the community. Long may this continue. |
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