Our Church history goes back to the year 1837 when a Primitive Methodist Church was built in Grove Street, a cul-de-sac off Cox Street, at a cost of £600.
The Chapel was opened for worship on 9th April 1837, being pewed in a plain style having a gallery at the end opposite the pulpit. Some years afterwards, however, side galleries were erected and furnished with moveable benches, with a view to being used for the Sunday School accommodation. The area of thirty six feet by thirty feet with a small Vestry behind would seat nearly 500 persons.
In 1895 the Ford Street Church was built costing £2500, and the Grove Street building was closed. The Grove Street building was still standing many years later although it had not been used as a Church for many years.
Our Church at Ford Street flourished and became the head of a small Circuit of three Primitive Methodist Churches, with Milton Street (later Heath Road) and Holbrooks, which was served by many capable Ministers.
During the years 1938 and 1939 a series of meetings were held to consider uniting the Ford Street Circuit with the larger Coventry Methodist Circuit, and in August 1939 this was accomplished. This arrangement proved to be satisfactory but the commencement of the war brought certain difficulties. So many people leaving the City and District reduced the congregations considerably.
Then came the great air raid on the night of 14th November 1940 when our Church was struck by bombs and almost completely burned down. Strangely enough a small wooden hut standing alongside the Church was only slightly damaged and in this our people worshiped until a new site could be purchased and a building erected.
The Coventry Corporation wished to purchase our Ford Street site so we were unable to build there. After much consideration it was finally decided to build a Church where the majority of our people lived and we began to look around the Stoke and Wyken districts where a large new building estate was springing up. After viewing several sites we eventually decided to purchase a plot of land in Macdonald Road, in a district where there was no Non-conformist Church at the time.
An unused prefabricated Government Building was purchased and after some alterations to it to adapt it to our needs as a Church the place was opened on 30th January 1948.
A great deal of work was done to re-establish our Church in this new district but it was soon evident that we had done the right thing in opening up in Macdonald Road. Soon our congregations began to increase, our Sunday School was re-opened and activities amongst our young people commenced.
Steadily going forward our few devoted workers strained every nerve to get new movements started amongst our young people who came along from the Sunday School, Christian Endeavour, etc., for it was felt we must hold these young folk and maintain their interest in the Church.
From time to time the houses in streets adjacent to Macdonald Road were canvassed and our work explained to the people in an endeavour to get them to attend our services if they were not already attached to any other Church, and also to invite them to bring their children along to our Sunday School.
Shortage of teachers was a great handicap but the Sunday School was built up and soon our accommodation was severely taxed, so much so that classes were held in the Vestry, kitchen, vestibule and in any corner where a few seats could be placed. A Girls' Brigade and Boys' Brigade company were based at the church but the Girls' Brigade disbanded due to lack of leaders.
It soon became evident that we should have to extend our premises and our Trustees, after much consideration, decided to instruct our architect to prepare plans for new premises on the site alongside our building.
The new Church Building was opened in 1956 by Rev. Tom Meacham. The building is dual purpose with a Sanctuary at one end by the Crush Hall and a stage at the other. It was envisaged that a Church would be built on the land beyond the Crush Hall at some time in the future. The Vestry was added later in memory of Mr. Hodgkins who was treasurer for several years.
There were two services each Sunday and a Youth Fellowship after the evening service. During the week the Christian Endeavour, Wive's Group, Mens Fellowship and a Choir met. There was also a Childrens Choir for Sunday Morning. Pantomimes were a regular feature and a Concert Party, "the Happy Macs" which visited most churches in the circuit and beyond. The Boy's Brigade continued but this moved to Meredith Road Baptist Church when one of the ministers did not approve of uniformed organisations.
In 1985 it was apparent that the land beside the Church was not going to be used to build a new Church so the land was sold and two detached houses built. Some of the money from the sale of the land was used to build new Gents toilets and passage to the car park. The frontage to the church was later landscaped and fenced due to problems with its usage by young people. The building was improved by new central heating, a tiled roof over the rear rooms and an extended sanctuary area, the latter being financed from money left in memory of Mr. Ron Moore who was the Sunday morning organist at the church for many years.
The appointments were made by the Primitive Methodist Conference in the month of July.
Appointments made by the Conference starting in September
This history was prepared from information in the safe at Macdonald Road and other information.
Acknowledgements to the late Mr. S. B. Langford.
December 2003, revised October 2008.