CROMWELL HALL EVANGELISTIC MISSION

The origins of Cromwell Hall - Laying the Foundation stone

This then was a regular pattern of life with Mr Cooke. Living at 87 Summerfield Crescent, opposite Christ Church, he was a smartly dressed, good living, independent sort of man of medium height with a quick step and determined air. A commercial traveller in Woollens he, together with his wife who ran it, kept a Milliners Shop at 195-197, Dudley Road immediately opposite the entrance to Summerfield Park. Commerce in no way deterred him from work among the children and youth of the district and many were his friends both young and old who loved him for what he did and taught.

It was in friendship and admiration that Mr Cooke was invited to use one of the rooms in the house at Summerfield Park especially during inclement weather and it was there, sometimes with the basement overflowing with chattering boys and girls, that a foundation was laid for an endeavour which was to make such a mark on that area of Winson Green.

For four years the work continued until in 1889, with the death of Mr Lucas Chance, the house in the parkland was demolished and Mr Cooke looked around for further accommodation to receive the ever growing numbers of the flock he had gathered around him.

It was in Heath Street South that a building was rented and there the work expanded. Sundays saw the School in full swing with a Bible Class for older children while in the week endeavours were made in concerts and plays. No talent was necessary, only “sheer guts” demanded; backcloth scenery was produced by those who were inclined to do it and not by those who were capable, if any. Choirs were formed but no-one could really sing. Functions of every description were the order of the day as Mr Cooke strove to keep young people off the streets, to give children an awareness of God and to develop within them a sense of respect, endeavour and loyalty.

Heath Street South was in an area then known as Birmingham Heath and it was towards the end of the 19th Century that development began on a large scale inside the boundary. In 1892 houses were built forming roads now known as Cuthbert Road, Bellefield Road, Heath Green Road, Chiswell Road and quickly they were occupied. Neat sturdy terraced houses, they were, with St. Cuthbert’s the Parish Church, the School for boys, girls and infants in Dudley Road, the open Summerfield Park, all along the highway from the City to Smethwick, Dudley and beyond.

It was in this environment that Mr Cooke worked among young people and the time came when the accommodation in Heath Street South was quite inadequate. His enthusiasm and that of those who helped him - Mr John Ridley, Mr William Ridley, Miss Hill and Mr Wakely to name but a few, not to mention Mrs Cooke - caused increasing numbers of children to join the Sunday School and it was in 1894 that considerations were begun to obtain a permanent and larger building. Where could this possibly be? To consolidate the work already done the place must not be too far removed from the present area. The answer came quickly. In Heath Green Road, newly built, was a space of land between house numbers 22 and 28, some 11 yards wide 40 yards long and it was available for rental. On this site could be built a Hall quite sufficient for the Christian Endeavour so far attempted and Mr Cooke tackled the problem in his usual efficient and eager manner.

An agreement was drawn up with Messrs Kezia Shaw, William Napier Shaw and Frank Henry Shaw together with George Baker and John Edward Baker on the 25th March 1894 and this enabled Charles Cooke to have rental rights for 99 years leasehold for the sum of £9 3s 4d per year. He was not a rich man by any means but he did possess certain shares with the Birmingham Incorporated Building Society and it was against these that this company promised to advance a mortgage to the sum of £500 in order that an appropriate building could be erected on the site obtained. It was called Park Hall.

The following weeks saw consultations with a Mr J H Gibbons, Architect, of City Road whose plans were eventually accepted for Messrs Atkinson, Minis of Lansdowne Street, the builders, to proceed at the earliest opportunity. They lost no time and on 2nd June 1894 at 4 o’clock on a wet Saturday afternoon a ceremony was held when four foundation stones were laid by Mr J H Chance, Mrs J H Chance, Mrs C J Cooke and Mr Amos Roe in the presence of a goodly number of people.

John Homer Chance was a well known, local business man, an earnest and sincere Christian who resided at 40 Augustus Road, Edgbaston. He had been the Chairman of the committee formed to promote the erection of a memorial Church in memory of the late Rev George Lea, this church being Christ Church, Summerfield, the foundation stones of which were laid on November 27th 1883. He worshipped regularly at Christ Church and it was here that Mr Cooke had begun an acquaintance of many years standing with Mr Chance and his family. It was the father of Mr Chance who lived at Summerfield House where Mr Cooke began his work with the children.

Mr Amos Roe was also a prominent business man who lived at 225 Bristol Road and owned a business at Bridge Street on Worcester Wharf. His many advertisements in the local press proclaimed him as a Wood Turner, Timber Merchant, Japanner, Brush Maker etc. In later years he obtained property on lease for 25 years on the Parade, Holland Street and Charlotte Street and took up the cudgels against the local government, heading the agitation of ‘Bristol Road Property Owners against the Overhead Wire System for the Tramways’.

It was said of Mr Roe that he was a ‘benefactor and friend of poor children’. He was indeed a pioneer in Christian Charity. It was on Good Friday in 1875 at Bridge Street that nine ragged children playing about the wharf were invited into his office to partake of coffee and hot cross buns.

For the next 33 years the number of children who partook of a feast established every Good Friday reached an incredible total of 3,000 with the Lord Mayor and other prominent citizens of the City and the police band in attendance, all encouraging this ‘Festival’.

For a number of years Mr Roe was a member of the Birmingham Board of Guardians and closely associated with many aspects of public life. From his childhood he was a regular attendee of the Services at the Ebenezer Congregational Church, Steelhouse Lane, and was one of its Trustees. He was also a Trustee of the Glovers Charity and Spring Hill College.

It seems certain that Mr Cooke invited Mr Roe to lay a foundation stone knowing that he would gladly give his consent because of his love for little children so readily established in the hearts and minds of all those in the City of Birmingham.

These then were the two prominent Citizens who laid foundation stones at the building in Heath Green Road along with Mrs Chance and Mrs Cooke at a little Service on that wet Saturday afternoon thus giving witness to their encouragement and support for Mr Cooke in his work among the children and youth of Winson Green.

The Daily Argus recorded:

‘Of building many schools in Birmingham there is no end. On Saturday another of these institutions was formerly founded in Heath Green Road by the laying of memorial stones by Mr. J. H. Chance and Mr. Amos Roe’.

In later years, Austin Kinchin, Superintendent of the Sunday School wrote:

‘How cold! How hard a statement! Whoever wrote it never realised what a seed had been planted that day. Never realised that the Breath of God would blow upon this place, that His Spirit would pervade in an abundant measure, that in the years to come thousands of boys and girls would receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yea, that thousands of men and women would sit and listen to wonderful words of life. Hundreds would bow the knee before the Saviour and pass from death unto life. Hundreds would commit their lives to Him and His Service, hundreds would find a place where prayer was wont to be made, hundreds would come to know a joy which is unspeakable and a peace which passeth all understanding’.

It was said of Mr Chance, ‘He was a fine Sunday School Teacher. He was good because he was great and great because he was good.’ He died in 1900.

Mr Roe died on December 24th 1907 aged 76 and lies buried in the Church of England Cemetery, Warstone Lane being mourned by two sons, many friends and indeed thousands of children. No longer would they receive a hot cross bun on Good Friday from his Festival, no longer would they sit in the stalls of the Prince of Wales Theatre, Broad Street and, looking up, see hundreds of toys cascading down from the Gallery for them to pick up and take home. Mr Roe was indeed a Christian gentleman who loved his Lord and worked among boys and girls of Birmingham.

It was said of him when he died that ‘it was appropriate perhaps that one who did so much to cultivate this spirit so emblematic of Christmas during his lifetime should pass hence on the very eve of Christmas Day’.

Mr Cooke died on 16th January 1910. The Birmingham Gazette announced:

‘The death took place of Mr C J Cooke on Sunday at his residence at 502 City Road, Edgbaston. Mr Cooke took the greatest interest in the welfare of the lads of Birmingham and was connected for about 15 years with the Boys' Brigade. For about 10 years he was President of that Organisation. During that period a Drill Shield and First Aid Cup were presented by him bearing his name. The funeral took place on Thursday at 3pm at Lodge Hill Cemetery, Selly Oak. At a meeting of the Clerical Officers of the Church Lads' Brigade in Birmingham a vote of condolence was passed to the members of the family of the late Mr Cooke.’

Park Hall was later renamed Cromwell Hall. The Sunday School continued faithfully until it closed in 1987.

This history is based on recently discovered notes written by Austin Kinchin, Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years.

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone

Eph ch 2 v20