1997 75th Anniversary
1997 75th Anniversary
Beginnings.
A group of Christian people met regularly together in a room over the stables of a large house, in what was Greenhurst Park. Today it is part of the housing estate of Pollards Oak. These believers moved to Pains Hill Chapel (Limpsfield Chart) after it was reopened by the Surrey Congregational Union in 1893. It is not known who led the work at that point in time. However, the Rev Edwin Corbold was appointed minister in 1895. He resigned as minister when the Congregational Church in Station Road East, Oxted was opened.
Some of the folk from Hurst Green would bring their food with them to Pains Hill so that they could stay the day and attend both services. Dora Pointer always made sure they had a cup of tea, which she would make using a kettle hung on a chain over the open vestry fire. They took lanterns with them so that they could see their way home down the dark lanes.
During the early part of this century Mr and Mrs Morphew came to live in Ice House Wood, and took over the leadership of Pains Hill Chapel (1909-1919). During this period a lot of prayer and evangelistic effort took place. (Four prayer meetings a week were held).
Weekly bible studies took place in various homes in the district of Holland and around. Open air meetings were held in different parts of the area which included, Limpsfield, Holland, Lower Holland, Hurst Green, Mill Lane, Broadham Green and Oxted Station. Pains Hill organised tent meetings too, amongst them was one in 1908 at South View Holland, and another at Holland was in a field opposite the shop which was then called King's Shop. There was another in Tanhouse Meadow, including one in Master Park in Oxted, and many more.
Mr and Mrs Morphew eventually left the district and their place at Pains' Hill Chapel was taken by Mr Harold Ryde who moved into Beatrice Road, Oxted.
A move to Hurst Green.
Miss Dora Pointer often spoke of the need for a chapel in Hurst Green. At this time Mr and Mrs Crittal who lived in Mill Lane, Hurst Green had become members of Pains Hill. They felt there was a need for a Sunday School for the children of Hurst Green, so they started one in their kitchen. This work amongst the children grew, and they filled two rooms with children.
Somewhere to meet.
There was a strong desire now for a Sunday service to be held in Hurst Green. Mr Ryde was hard pressed to find a meeting place. The only room he could get hold of was the Mess Room of the Hurst Green Laundry which stood on what is now Halsland Way. Here in the Laundry mess room an evening service was commenced. (Hurst Green at that time was just a piece of common grazing ground opposite the Laundry). Mr Ryde along with Mr Gurr spread themselves between Pains Hill and Hurst Green.
The Mission Hall.
Mr and Mrs Crittal moved away, so somewhere else needed to be found for the children's work, and of course it would be good to find a more permanent home for the regular services. In 1922 Mr Ryde was able to rent a piece land opposite the Laundry owned by Mr Blackman the owner of the Laundry. Mr Blackman had already built some houses on this land for his workers; there was still though a piece of land between the two rows of houses. Mr Blackman may have planned to build more houses at some time on that land because, the end of number 79, Hurst Green Road, does not have a proper finish, suggesting that more houses had been intended. This piece of land was rented for a nominal sum of a shilling per annum and an ex-army hut was erected as the meeting room. The Hurst Green Gospel Mission Hall was born. In those days there was no water, gas or electricity, so when the hall need cleaning buckets of hot soapy water was brought over from the Laundry. Among those who helped clean and carry those buckets of water was Miss Elsie Burton, who is still a member today in her 89th year.
The first meeting was on 16th November 1922 and the speaker was Mr Norman Grubb (who was then a local school master, and later associated with what is now WEC International)
Alongside the Sunday meeting, was the Sunday School and a midweek meeting for prayer and Bible Study. Open air meetings took place, and many homes visited. Eventually a clinker path was made over the rough Green, and a regular Sunday morning service began.
More Development.
The original piece of land on which the Mission Hall stood stretched down into parts of what is now Meldrum Close, and at least two houses are now built on that land. Mr Blackman sold the piece of land to the Mission Hall folk for a very nominal price.
The small band of believers felt that they wanted outside support and help and approached what was then know as The Friends Evangelistic Band (now The Fellowship For Evangelising Britain's Villages). F.E.B. took responsibility for the work in 1939. Mr Ryde continued as leader until the Lord called him home. In the early days Mr Arthur Bryers who was then the Field Secretary of the F.E.B. frequently visited the Mission with preaching, encouraging and giving support and help wherever he could.
In 1950 the first Pastor of the Mission was appointed. Mr Stanley Edwards with his wife Betty. There was no house at that time and they lived in a gypsy caravan in the grounds. During Mr Edwards 14 years as Pastor the present house was built, and also the current brick Church building. (The extra land which is now part of Meldrum Close was sold off to help pay for the building of the church).
Here to stay.
The Church building was opened on the 1st August 1955 and the name was changed to Hurst Green Evangelical Free Church. (Today we have omitted the word "Free" as it has lost its original meaning). A membership and constitution was drawn up, gas and electricity laid on, along with a small electric organ.
Mr Richard Empsall along with his wife Doris took over the Pastorate from Mr Edwards in 1966. They moved from an F.E.B. Church in Braintree, Essex. The house was not big enough for them and their three children David, Andy and Ruth and the present extension was built. The Church Hall was built in 1972 during their ministry of 11 years. God blessed their ministry, and they both became known as "well known" figures in the then expanding community. Doris Empsall still lives in the Village and attends the Church regularly.
When the Empsall's retired, Mr Stephen Swan who had been a deacon of the church took over the Pastorate with his wife Pauline.
Derry and Wendy O'Sullivan succeeded the Swan's in 1982 and ministered in the Church for five years until 1987.
In the spring of 1988 Rev Alan Bass with his wife and family, moved into Hurst Green to take up the current position of Pastor. Although, this year we celebrate our 75th Anniversary our history span's more time than that. We want to give testimony of Praise to God for His abundant faithfulness and goodness to us over all those years. He has blessed us and provided for us in so many wonderful and incredible ways. Only eternity and heaven itself will reveal how many people have come to know Jesus, through the-faithful witness and faithfulness of so many, some names who now maybe forgotten.
Our prayer today is that many more boys and girls, young people and grown ups of all ages will yet come to know the Saviour, whom to know is life eternal.
