Is it possible that these converted flats were once a thriving church? This is North Road Baptist Church. It is a Victorian chapel. It is made of yellow stock brick. Now, it has been converted into flats.
Let’s uncover the history of this locally listed building. North Road Baptist Church has a rich past. It involves passionate people and significant events.
Imagine children attending Sunday School here. It ran from 2.45 pm to 3.45 pm every Sunday. This was from 1958 to 1970. The Fromow family played a vital role. They ran a nursery garden in Chiswick. The Misses Fromow led the Sunday School for younger children.
Each Christmas was special. Every child received a tin of homemade toffees. They also got a hand-knitted hat, scarf or mittens. The tins were collected throughout the year.
Two special services marked each year. These were the Sunday School prize giving. Also the church anniversary service. Every child got a book for attendance. They also received a hyacinth in a pot. Pink for the girls and blue for the boys. This happened at a service in the autumn. Imagine the scent of hyacinths filling the air. The flowers sat on the window ledges during the service. Each child also received a paper bag. It contained an apple, an orange and a banana. People in the area were poor then. The church recognized that.
The Fromow family adopted a little girl. She was found with frostbite. Her fingers were missing. She was lying next to her dead mother. This happened around 1915. It was a result of the Armenian Genocide. As an adult, Miss Shakarian helped in Sunday School. She played a small pedal-powered portable organ. Sometimes, they carried this organ around the streets. A group would sing hymns on street corners.
Every summer, the church organized a day trip to the seaside. People paid weekly for their ticket. They could not afford to pay the coach fare at once. They gathered at the church for prayers. Then, they jumped on the coach to Brighton, Eastbourne or Worthing. Sometimes they went to Little Hampton.
One person remembers their family going to the North Star pub. It was at the other end of North Road. This was much to the disapproval of the church. The children were left outside with a lemonade.
The artist Lewis Lupton used to give talks. He illustrated them on a blackboard. He also organised an annual art competition. Children decorated a given Bible text.
Ada Gregory was another chapel character. She lived in a house with antique furniture. She had a grape vine in the green house. She made wonderful Sunday teas.
In 1941, the North Road Baptist Church was bombed. A new building was designed by Michael Secrett. It opened around 1957. The heating was inadequate. It had gas burners in the four corners.
The North Road Baptist Church has witnessed much. It has seen dedication. It has seen community. It has seen change. Though now flats, its spirit endures. It lives on in the memories of those who gathered here. This church contributed significantly to the community. It offered support and a sense of belonging. It is a place that is still remembered.