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Church Histories
Stubshaw Cross Independent Methodist
Church
Founded in the three years 1854 to 1857 when
"Cottage Meetings" were held in the homes of various people in the Stubshaw
Cross area. The first church building was built on our current site in 1857. This church
was almost sold in 1875, due to what can only be described as apathy by the members of
that time. However, due to a phenominal effort by some stalwarts of Independent Methodism,
the church was able to recover its former spiritual life.
The second church building was erected on the
current site in 1907. It cost a grand total of £594. This building lasted through both
World Wars until in early 1979 the decision to close this church was forced upon us. The
reason for this was that the church had become unsafe (due to mining subsidence in the
locality) and we could no longer insure the place.
However, a few months later we had the great news
that the National Coal Board had accepted full responsibility for the structural damage to
our church and were going to compensate us for the loss which would enable us to build a
new church building. The church was then demolished and the third building (our current
building) was erected on the same site and opened for worship in March 1981.
St Luke's Church of England (in the
Parish of St Thomas's Church)
Founded in 1874 when a new school was built in
the Stubshaw Cross area and regular Sunday services began to be held there. A rapidly
expanding population in the area meant that it became desirable for the parish to set up a
proper Mission Church in the area.
In the early 1890's, the parish church (St
Thomas's) was rebuilt and during the rebuilding a temporary church was erected in the
church yard. When the rebuilding was complete, it was decided to transfer this temporary
building to Stubshaw Cross for the people of St Luke's to use as their building.
This "temporary" building became the
home for the church until late 1997, when it was decided that it was no longer safe to
worship in the building. At this point the offer was made from the Independent Methodist
Church to share their building - this has been happening up until today.
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