CROMWELL HALL EVANGELISTIC MISSION

Heath Green Road, (off Dudley Road), Winson Green, Birmingham

For almost a hundred years Cromwell Hall was the local Sunday school for the children who lived near Dudley Road, Winson Green, Birmingham.

Founded as ‘Park Hall’ on 2 June 1894, by Mr C. Cooke, with foundation stones laid by Amos Roe, J. H. Chance and Mrs Chance of the glass making family, the Hall promulgated the Protestant Word of the Lord. It was re-named ‘Cromwell Hall’ in 1896 by Thomas Hope Aston, secretary of The Christian Evidence and Protestant Layman’s Association, a fervent opponent of Catholicism. Upon his death in 1909, the anti-catholic theme declined and the Hall passed into the hands of trustees dedicated to teaching local children the Gospel. For more detail about the early history of Cromwell Hall, please click here.

In the 1930s, as many as 400 children were members of the Sunday school and in the 1950s and early 1960s it was not unusual for 200 children to attend on Sunday afternoons. The youngest children met in their own Primary department; teenagers met in a special Bible class.

There was also a Sunday morning school, an evening service and a wide range of activities during the week, including a Mothers’ meeting, a sewing class (which supported The Leprosy Mission in India, Zaire, Nepal, Papua New Guinea for many years), a youth club (which ran a football team and produced annual pantomimes), Scouts, Guides and Brownies. There was an annual children’s outing, a well-attended Christmas party and an Anniversary march round nearby streets.

The Hall prided itself on the quality of its singing, usually Moody and Sankey style hymns from 'Sacred Songs and Solos' in the Evening Service and 'Golden Bells' in the Sunday school.

Long serving Sunday school teachers included Frank and Grace Cotrell, Connie Packwood, Austin and Miriam Kinchin, Harry Skett, Grace Lockwood, George Hill, Leslie Smith, Geroge Morgan, Alan Randle and many more. The organist for more than 70 years was Jack Jesson, a noted musician.

The last service in Cromwell Hall itself was held in November 1992 after which the Hall was closed owing to the poor state of the building. Members met locally for a further twelve months with the final service being held in December 1993. A Centenary service was held on 26 June 1994 at City Road Methodist Church. The Hall was demolished in 1997 and houses built on the land. It is hoped that a plaque will be erected to mark the site.

The records of the Hall have been placed in the Central Library, Birmingham. Work over the last few years has lead to a new history of Cromwell Hall, written to supplement the earlier record written by Mr Percy Lockwood. It is called Echoes of the Past and details can be found here. A CD of Jack Jesson’s music has also been prepared and also a recording of the recent anniversary service (£2.50, incl p&p). If you are interested in any of these, then please get in touch.

It is not known how many children received their first religious teaching in Cromwell Hall but it is believed that the lives of many hundreds of boys and girls were influenced by the devoted teachers who gave their time freely to bring the Word of God into their lives.

If you attended Cromwell Hall and would like to get in touch, please send an e-mail to memories@cromwellhall.org.uk with your memories.

Please click here for photographs of Cromwell Hall.

Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations

Deuteronomy ch 32 v 7