The text of the next two chapters (in black) is taken from a booklet written to celebrate the Church's Ter-Centenary in 1971.
1925 Building and strengthening
When the second ministry of Rev. J. H. Hawes closed in 1925, a new
pastorate of some twelve years began the same year. The Rev. John
H. Brooks laboured faithfully at Attleborough, building up and
strengthening the fellowship. It was at the height of this pastorate
that the New Church School was built and opened in 1930.
The stone-laying ceremony was presided over by the
Mayor of Nuneaton, Dr L E Price, and the lesson was read by the Vicar
of Attleborough, Rev W F Knight. No fewer than twelve stones were laid,
all of which can still be seen.
This was a tremendous venture of Faith, for the times were hard even as
they had been at the building of the first Church, yet under
John Brooks' leadership the Church went
forward and the work was completed.
The plan was eventually to demolish the old premises
and build a new sanctuary alongside the new "church school". The
architect's impression, reproduced here, is taken from the order of
service for the stone-laying ceremony and gives a clear idea of what
was proposed. (Notice how the car in the foreground has been shrunk
by the artist so as not to obscure the entrance.)
We will never know whether the plans for the second phase were a
further venture in faith or a pipe dream for a largely working class
church with a membership of under 100. It had taken the best part of
20 years to collect the money for this first phase and there were events
on the world horizon which would prevent the second target being
achievable before the latter half of the century.In the old church, the Sunday School had been upstairs, but now it became possible to accommodate all the church's activities in the new single-storey building, with a certain amount of furniture shifting and, of course, afternoon classes. What we know (2001) as the carpet shop was then rented out to Mr Colin Butler for his tailoring business. The Ladies Bright Hour was started in 1931.
1937 Pastorless again
In1937 Rev. J.H. Brooks accepted a call to Reading, and for two years the Church was pastorless. more>>
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