'We have a message of hope about God’s love for us' 

A Baptist church in Birmingham has celebrated 100 years of witness – and is looking at how it can continue to share the love of Jesus with its community

 
The Baptist Free Church in Marston Green began life in April 1924, and moved into its own premises in September of that year.
 
A special service to mark this anniversary took place in September this year, when Brian and Joan Pace, the oldest married couple in the church, were on hand to cut the anniversary cake. Brian and Joan are longstanding members who have been attending since 1958.
 


The life of the church has taken in the growth of Marston Green, a building project delayed by the Second World War, links to the family of a certain world famous chocolate brand, several ministers, a name change, and much more.
 
But while much has changed over the years, the desire to provide a witness to the people of Marston Green remains. 'Our aim is to share the love of Jesus with our local community', states the church’s website.
 
‘We are at present as a church without a minister and we have guest speakers who take our Sunday services,’ notes member Ray Smith.
 
‘But we have an active church leadership team and we have recently had a church meeting where we are looking at our next steps. And have seen some growth over the past 12 months with four people coming into church membership.’
 
The Baptist Free Church came into being when the Huddleston family came to Marston Green in 1923. They were committed Christians who felt, after much prayer and reflection, there was an opportunity to set up a non-conformist centre for worship. The village had grown into a leafy suburb in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, partly encouraged by the presence of a rail station.
 
A resolution was passed at a village meeting in 1923 stating 'There is both a need an opportunity for a Free Church to be started... to be on interdenominational lines.'
 
A church history documents what happened next:
 
‘Thus 26 folk with £35, an American organ and lots of faith pledged themselves and formed a committee to activate the resolution.’
 
Marston Green Free Church, as it was originally known, was born.
 
Sunday School and Sunday Evening services started in the village hall in April 1924, with services led mainly by preachers from Birmingham. They began at 6.15pm and had to be over by 7.30pm in order to fit with train times back to Birmingham.
 
Both Baptists and Congregationalists were interested in the new church, and according to the church history, written in 2013, 'the Baptists had strong extension work funds and were willing to help and comply with the spirit of the resolution.' When a piece of land became available, Baptists bought it for £200 and gave £150 towards the building.
 
The new building officially opened on 27 September 1924, by Mrs J Windsor Bond, president of the West Midlands Baptist Association.
 
Elizabeth Cadbury, the activist and philanthropist who was married to George Cadbury, the chocolate manufacturer, was present in her capacity as president of the Birmingham Free Church Council.
 
The services and Sunday School continued in the new building, and a boys' Scout Troop, a Girl Guide company and ladies' fellowship emerged.
 
By 1938 it was realised larger premises were necessary. Plans were put in place, only to be postponed by the Second World War.

Due to rising post war costs, would only be actioned in the 1960s.


 
A stone laying ceremony took place in November 1962 and work progressed well, enabling an opening and dedication service to take place in June, 1963. The old building became the church hall, and the new building enabled the church to better serve the community as it grew.
 
Current member Ray moved to Marston Green as a child in 1962, and was at school with the daughter of the church founders, the Huddleston family.
 
‘At that time Marston Green was a village surrounded by farm fields, a wood, a golf course and Elmdon Airport,’ he says. ‘We also had the maternity hospital (former Canadian Air Force Hospital during WW2), which is where I was born in 1957 and we came under Warwickshire County Council.’
 
Following the expansion of the nearby Birmingham Airport, the construction of the National Exhibition Centre and the local housing estate of Chelmsley Wood, Marston Green has grown largely into a commuter village. Many of its residents work in Solihull and Birmingham.
 
The church has always been about more than the building, a point underlined by former minister the Revd David Barber.
 
David looked after both Tile Cross Baptist Church and Marston Green Free Church. During his pastorate it was decided the two churches would become one, which officially happened on 21 September 1997. The Tile Cross building was sold, and the funds were used to carry out a major refurbishment of the church hall and the church. The name also changed to the Baptist Free Church.
 
An article in Criss Cross magazine at the time explained more:
 
'We believe the Church to be a people not a building. The Church is a people dedicated to living for God. When we meet on Sundays the worship of God is our focal point and the reason for our meeting.
 
'We believe that the Bible relates to how we live our lives and we try to explore this through our teaching and preaching.
 
‘Most of all though, we believe we have a message of hope about God's love for us.'