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Methodism came to Holcombe Brook in 1874 when a few methodists met together in a stable in Pot Green to plan the setting up of a Sunday School and a place of worship. A Sunday School started in November 1874 and Sunday evening services of worship began in June 1875. Thus Holcombe Brook United Methodist Free Church came in being, meeting, like the Sunday School, in the Band Of Hope room in Pot Green.
As numbers increased it soon became obvious that a church building was needed and as a result the present chapel was built and was opened for worship in December 1885. From 1885-1901 the chapel building served also as a day school. For many years church services were held each Sunday at 10.30am and 6.00pm while Sunday School was from 9.30-10.15am and at 1.45pm.
The united Methodism denomination, which comprised the UM Free Church and other smaller bodies, was formed in 1907 and the union of the three main Methodist denominations took place in 1932.
After the Second World War church life at Holcombe Brook again included concerts and pantomimes and the choir was reformed. During the next thirty years various improvements were made to the premises and in particular a new extension at the rear of the chapel consisting of the present church lounge and kitchen and the Wesley Hall underneath was opened in January 1975. Monthly Sunday Family Services were introduced in 1969 which later became All Age Worship services and further changes and updates are being made all the time, most recently with the introduction of 'Sunday With A Difference'.
In the late 1970's there was a new impetus in the renewal of house fellowship groups and prayer meetings, which still continue, and three Lay Witness Movement weekends and other visiting groups have provided an additional stimulus. In 2001 a major refurbishment of the inside of the chapel and the rest of the premises took place and the resultant improvement has been a great help in worship and in providing a more flexible area for the church's life.
Changing social patterns and conditions meant that the afternoon Sunday School was dropped in 1964 and currently Sunday Club meets at 10.30am with the whole congregation and then after about twenty minutes of the service has its own activities in the rooms at the rear of the chapel. Sunday services of worship are held at 10.30am and 6.30pm and many activities take place during the week. See the 'services' pages on the web site for further details.
M.C. Pittam. December 2008.
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