Zetland Park Methodist Church – A History
Founded 1929
What follows is an extract from a booklet issued in 2004 to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Church at Zetland Park in 1929
Some items have been updated since the publication of the anniversary booklet.
It seems only yesterday but it’s now 20 years since the refurbishment in 2006. We have some ‘before’ and ‘after’ images to give you a feel for what was done. Better still come and look for yourself.
A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER IN 2004 REV MALCOLM NEWMAN
My dear friend
Welcome, to a time of celebration!
Welcome, to a time of celebration of God’s love and understanding.
Despite the awful weather that was around on the day of the stone-laying, and the many ‘storms’ endured since, Zetland Park Methodist Church has stood the test of both time and its people. We have sung our faith; we have argued our case; we have encouraged others to ‘come and see’; and then we have put them off with this or that ‘demand’. There’s nowt as funny as folk —especially chapel folk!’
But here we are – scars and all – celebrating God’s love and persistence for some 75 years. We really do need to thank Him for that wonderful generosity, which would have long since tested the patience of a mere human!
So, let the ‘celebration’ begin! For we have such a lot to celebrate and give thanks for:
- Those who lead us here and shared their faith
- Those who have sustained the ‘witness’ in good times and bad
- For the faithfulness of the preachers in sharing the powerful ‘Word of the Lord’ : in and out of season
- For the love shared through pastoral care: seen and unseen
- For those faithful souls now in God’s presence who laid the foundation of faith and witness
- For the future, with God, in love: the power of His ever-present Spirit: the challenge of the ‘Good news’
For today, and the impact we make with our lives and witness. We may not have much in the bank account; purse or wallet, but we have untold wealth through our knowledge of God in Christ, in the power of His Spirit. Let’s declare that through witness and service, and ensure that God is found, worshipped and celebrated in this part of the town called Redcar.
Thanks be to God.
Malcolm A. Newman
MINISTERS WHO HAVE HAD RESPONSIBILITY FOR ZETLAND PARK
- Rev. T Shaw 1928 – 1932
- Rev. W M Daw 1932 – 1936
- Rev. W H Dixon 1936 – 1941
- Rev. F H Jowett 1941 – 1944
- Rev. F W Capewell 1944 – 1947
- Rev. Sidney Markham 1947 – 1952
- Rev. H Rushworth 1952 – 1958
- Rev. R McClure 1958 – 1961
- Rev. Frank Bramhall 1961 – 1966
- Rev. Harold Holt 1966 – 1970
- Rev. Geoffrey Bruce 1970 – 1978
- Rev. Martin Amery 1978 – 1982
- Rev. David Burton 1982 – 1985
- Rev. Arthur Hallworth 1985 – 1990
- Rev. Bryan Ewin 1990 – 1995
- Rev. Roy Stent 1995 – 1996
- Rev. Dr Jonathan Hustler 1996 – 2001
- Rev. Malcolm Newman 2001 – 2011
- Rev. W Arthur Harbottle 2011 to 2020
- Rev. Kevin Highfield 2020 – 2025
- Rev. Meg Peters 2025 –
A SHORT HISTORY
This is a true story of an idea which developed into a vision and which became a reality for the Methodist people of Redcar. In the 1920’s the Primitive Methodists of Station Road, Redcar had been looking to improve their own premises, but unfortunately this was not to be and eventually they started a ‘New Church Fund’. At that time Redcar had a population of 23,000 people and the east end of Redcar particularly was growing at a considerable rate.
Efforts were made to secure a suitable site and in July of 1928 the Society were successful in obtaining one at Zetland Park. The site was secured by the Trustees of Station Road and a grant of £500 was promised from the Home Missions Committee if the Circuit would respond with a further grant of £1,000. However, the Trustees of Station Road Methodist Church themselves agreed that they would offer this grant of £1,000. Owing to the imminence of Methodist union it was also decided at that time that some Wesleyans would be invited to join the new Trust and seven were appointed on to the Board of Trustees. At a special meeting at Station Road Methodist Church on 5 October 1928 the following men were asked by the Rev T Shaw to form the first Trust for Zetland Park Methodist Church. A full list of Trustees appointed were:
Mr J T Myers, Mr H S Bean, Mr T Croskell,
Mr W H Swales, Mr Dubbing, Mr Lambert,
Mr E Talbot, Mr E Yuill, Mr J Thompson,
Mr J Tillotson, Mr W H Dixon, Mr C Kettley,
Mr J Tweedy, Mr Mayhall
The Architect appointed to the scheme was Mr H B Richardson of Darlington, who was the son of the late Rev H O H Richardson and the builder was Mr W G Haswell of Guisborough. Work commenced early in 1929 and eventually the stone laying took place on 10 June. A report from the North Eastern Evening Gazette states that there was a terrible storm during the stone laying, but this did not deter a large number of Primitive Methodists and friends from gathering on that Saturday. It is reported that 25 stones were laid by adult benefactors of the Church and a further 32 bricks, which were to have been laid by children, that was postponed until the evening because of the bad weather. The stone laying was by Mr A W Newell on behalf of Station Road Trustees, by the Rev W J Ward on behalf of the Missionary Committee and by Mrs E Robinson on behalf of the Women’s Guild.
A clause was inserted in the Trust Deed stipulating that the church would automatically become Methodist when the imminent union between the Primitive Methodist and the Wesleyan Methodist churches took place. The Trust secretary appointed at this time was Mr W H Swales and the Trust Treasurer Mr W Dixon. The new church was built of red pressed brick with portland stone dressings in the romanesque style, with double transepts and would accommodate 475 adults. At the rear of the church there was also to be a large hall, a kitchen and offices. Sufficient land was also purchased at the side of the church so that at some future time Sunday School accommodation could be built.
Eventually the church was completed and the opening ceremony was fixed for Saturday, 9 November 1929. At that time 90 members were transferred from the old Station Road Society and it opened with a membership of 130. In addition to the Sunday School which had a membership of 20 teachers and 175 scholars and were meeting in temporary accommodation loaned by the North Riding County Council Education Department. At the time of opening the financial situation was that the cost of the church and furnishings, land, architect fees and building was £4,050 and the furnishings and organ £345, a total cost of £4,395. £1,800 of that figure had been raised at the opening of the church and a £1,000 grant had been received from Station Road Methodist Church and £500 was received as a gift from the Home Missions Committee.
The opening ceremony was performed by Lady Starmer at 2.45 pm supported by Mr Charles W Starmer and there was an address given by the Rev A E Guile, who was Chairman of the Whitby and District Wesleyan Circuit. Members of the Redcar Corporation also attended. The opening ceremony was followed by a public tea, price 1/-, and then there was a public meeting at 6.30 pm, addressed by the Rev A E Guile, R Laidler and T A Brown. On the Sunday the services in the morning at 10.30 am and in the evening at 6.30 pm were preached by the Rev G J Lane of Stockton.
It is believed that Zetland Park Methodist Church was one of the last churches completed prior to the union of the Primitives and the Wesleyans. When it was first opened in November 1929 it initially went on to the Primitive Methodist Circuit Plan.
Following the opening of the Church there was a growth of young people’s activities and it soon became apparent that it would be essential to add to the existing premises and so plans were started for a second building, a large hall alongside the existing church. In 1937 plans were put forward for a temporary building to be put up, but although these were started the planning permission was not allowed and therefore the work had to stop. In 1938, with a church membership of 195 and 200 Sunday School scholars, work did commence on a new school hall and this was opened on Wednesday, 26 May 1938. On the 25 the opening ceremony at
4.30 pm was conducted by the Rev E Cook, the Superintendent Minister and it was followed at 5.00 pm by a public tea, tickets 1/- each. There was a public meeting of thanksgiving at 7.30 pm and on the following day, the 26th, there was a scholars tea in the new hall at 5.00 pm and then a scholars meeting in the church at 7.00 pm. The cost of the church hall and furnishings was £1,300 and £700 of this amount was given to the church as a Connexional gift. Down the years further alterations and improvements have been made.
In 1959 the Trustees agreed that work should start, among other things, on joining the church premises with the large hall premises and also on improving the kitchen accommodation. This started in late 1959 and the cost was approximately £4,100, but it was believed that a grant would be received from the Joseph Rank Benevolent Fund. Since that time even further work has been undertaken and as members will now appreciate, alterations and improvements have been made recently to the kitchen and toilet facilities.
In December 2003 a new organ was purchased and the area where the old organ was made into a prayer chapel. In 2006 new chairs were purchased for the church. The dais was extended in order to make the worship area more flexible. New lighting was installed and carpeting was laid.
Extensive works in the large hall, including getting rid of the stage and creating a small meeting room and store room in its place were completed in 2005