On this page you will find a
and
The
following text appeared in a booklet produced in 1982 to celebrate the Centenary
of the Church.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF EBENEZER CHURCH
The year 1882 saw the erection and opening of Ebenezer Church on 600sq. yards of land purchased four years previously at a cost of £165. The foundation stones were laid on 24th April 1882, and the opening ceremony took place on 5th November 1882. The building comprised the Church and Minister's Vestry with schoolroom and classrooms underneath at a cost of £1150. This was indeed a great achievement since for twenty years previously the Wesleyan Reform Church at Stairfoot had held their services and meetings in the converted Weaving Room in Zion Terrace.
On 5th April 1891 Rev. William Clough was appointed Pastor and remained at Hunningley Lane until his death in August 1916. He came to us from Muff Field Church, Bradford and was a well known, loved and respected man, not only by the Church members but by the whole community of Stairfoot and District.
In 1892 a gallery was added and by 1890 the debt for building the Church was paid off. An extension fund was established and during the next 10 years £600 was raised.
In 1905 land to the rear of the church was purchased for £200 and on 26th December 1907 the foundation stones for the Lecture Hall with classrooms underneath were laid - at a cost of £1,300. On the stairs leading to the Lecture Hall is a beautiful stained glass window erected by the parents of Miss Clara Novello Scholey who had gone to China as a missionary and was massacred during the Boxer Rising in August 1900. Miss Scholey had been headmistress of a local Public Day School and was a member of the Church and a teacher in the Sunday School.
In 1909 two houses in King Street were purchased for the caretaker at a cost of £300. Also in 1909 the Young Men's Institute commenced in the schoolroom.
1911 saw the installation of a new organ and alterations were made to the rostrum and choir seats costing £500.
1914-18 The Great War - many of the young men of the Church being called up for duty and in 1918 a Roll of Honour was unveiled.
April 1916 - Rev. Wm. Clough's 25th Anniversary. Following Mr. Clough's death in August 1916, money was raised by Public Subscription and a memorial stone was erected in the local cemetery.
In 1917 Rev. S. J. Smith was appointed Pastor, commencing his duties in December when eight Stained Glass Windows were unveiled, one of these being given by our friends at Muff Field Church, Bradford, in memory of Mr. Clough. Also a carved Oak Pulpit, five Oak Chairs and an Oak Communion Table which had been bequeathed by Mr. Clough were dedicatad.
1918 The Women's Auxiliary was constituted.
1921 - Rev. W. C. Smith was appointed Pastor, also on 1st February 1921 the Young Men's Institute was reorganised.
In 1926 the Young Men's Institute moved to their own building at the rear of the Church and the Church and Schoolroom were renovated and electric lighting installed.
In 1927 Rev. W. H. Jones became Pastor and a house was purchased and known as the Manse. Mr. Jones was with us until 1933 when he moved to Bradford.
In 1933 Rev. J. H. Mindham became Pastor and remained with us until October 1945 when he left to become Chaplain for the British Sailors' Society
In May 1946 Rev. R. Wesley Heming became pastor and remained with us until 27th February 1949.
Rev. F. H. Chalk was pastor from July 1952 to December 1954.
During the Second Great War (1939-45) a Comforts Fund was formed - 52 members being on active service. Over 1,300 letters were written by Mr. J. Brooke, Secretary of the Comforts Fund. A Service of Thanksgiving was held in 1945.
For many years the Barnsley Health Service held a clinic in the Schoolroom and during the war two rooms were used for day school purposes.
In 1949 the Church was re-decorated.
In the 1950s the Dramatic Society performed many plays.
1952-53 the first inside toilets were installed.
1957-58 The Young Men's Institute closed and the building was sold.
1957-A new boiler was fitted.
1961-saw the compulsory purchase of the two cottages in King Street. Also 1961 the Restoration Committee was formed to prepare for the Church Centenary in 1962.
During that year a great deal of internal work
was carried out in readiness for the Centenary of the Wesleyan Reform Church
which started in the Weaving Room in Zion Terrace, Field Lane.
In
1962 the Church was re-opened on the 3rd November.
In
1966 a new floor was fitted in the Schoolroom.
The Restoration Fund has continued - a new committee having been formed - and has been responsible for many improvements in the Church - the fitting of new toilets in 1973, new doors to the front of the Church in 1980, helping towards the restoration of the stained glass windows in 1981 (at a cost of £1,800) and at the present time arranging for carpet to be fitted in the aisles and front of the Church.
1976-The
Church was rewired and an amplifier unit fitted.
1979-Compulsory
purchase of land for the new road - this resulted in a great deal of vandalism
to the rear windows, these being repaired in 1982 following the completion of
the road.
1980-The
Church was re-decorated following repairs by the Coal Board.
In
1981 a very successful Flower Festival was held. In July 1982 we were privileged
to have the Wesleyan Reform Conference held in our Church.
More pictures will be added later - please call again.