Coleman Street's Children

Coleman Street’s Children Coleman Street’s Children a history of Colman Street Gospel Hall (Coleman Street Chapel), 1900 - 1999 by John Barber Published by John Barber 1 Coleman Street’s Children But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light . 1Peter 2v9 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Psalms 127v3 First published in November 1999 ISBN TBD Copyright © 1999 John Barber All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Typeset and printed by Paul Lewis Published by John Barber For further copies of the book and other enquiries, contact the publisher: John Barber, 136 St. Lukes Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, SS2 4AG, England Tel/Fax: 01702-616302, E-mail: [email protected] 2 Coleman Street’s Children FOREWORD I’ve just spent some quality time with a venerable old aunt of mine who I’ve not often visited and hadn’t really got to know very well. To my amazement she turns out to have been a great missionary with tremendous stories to tell about meeting the needs of the poor and marginalised, witnessing for Christ on the streets, loving and nurturing children and young people, working alongside other Christians, church planting, and her great vision for the whole community in which she lived. Now, I’ve got a passion for these things too, and she so generously opened her heart and talked so freely and honestly about her failures as well as her successes, that she began to feel like long-lost family to me, and a precious resource for the work of God’s Kingdom today. What was even more exciting is that she’s spent her whole life and ministry in Southend and in the South East Essex Region that God has laid on my own heart. That’s what it felt like to read this book about Coleman Street Chapel! John Barber has not only given us an insight into one local fellowship, but opened a window on the whole work of God through the Brethren in this area. I’ve only lived and worked here for eight years but I have a passion for seeing every man, woman and child reached with the Gospel. If you have the same passion, when you’ve read this book you’ll realise we are Coleman Street’s Children! We serve the same God and Saviour, we’re charged with the same Great Commission and we’ve inherited all the spiritual footholds and family silver deposited here by the Father through His people at Coleman Street, through the whole Brethren Movement, and through all the many and various moves of His Spirit in South East Essex down the years. Coleman Street Chapel celebrates her Centenary in the year 2000 and this book is a history of her life, but its message is much bigger than that. It is calling us to see the 170 churches in our Region, with all they represent in their provenance and history, as our aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers and sisters in the family of God. The needs and priorities of Mission in the year 2000 would be almost unrecognisable to the Christians of 1900. And whenever we read history we discover again that, yes, the past is another country and they do things differently there. But let this book challenge us, galvanise us, even shame us if necessary, into working as faithfully and as expectantly as those who have gone before us. And for goodness sake, let’s do it together ! I believe that is the only way we might live to see the task completed. Stuart Kimber Rev. Stuart Kimber is Minister of Golden Cross Community Church, part of the Anglican Parish of Hawkwell. He is also Director of Regional Development for SEELEF (the South East Essex Local Evangelical Fellowship.) 3 Coleman Street’s Children The elderly aunt I have lots of children, grand children too; brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces. But most of them aren’t with me any more: moved or drifted away or left or died, yet all are dear to me and to my Lord. He keeps me here to witness to His Word. You ask me of changes, I’ve seen so much; past is better they say, or was it such? ‘Tis true, the world’s a different place today; image, approach, techie stuff, vast array and varied. Memories down the years: laughter, joy and smiles; sorrow, pain and tears. Thousands of children have been born or come, and they have grown and gone, and more again. Different characters, yes in every way, all have their gifts and place, visions and dreams, who stroved and stayed and prayed and thought and done. Some have failed to grow, some great victories won. Misunderstood, comes frustration, conflicts, wounds; accepted and encouraged, then new planes raise. Deeper and higher, sure should be our goal, but all must their own walk tread in this world. Let them choose, I have freed them so to do. Happy to say, many have children too. The emotions felt: glad and sad, love and fear; hurt, heal; estrange, unite; humbled pride here. Some have not had succour they need each day, and things get in the way, and so they stray like sheep; they fail to find the promised rest, or sheer refusal to accept what’s best. You may wonder, why my Lord spares me still, when young things come with vigour to impart. To bare more children, isn’t that His will? He gives new life, there lies my Lord’s great heart. Gift of eternal life, to all offered free, the Saviour’s wondrous love, to you and me. (following on from Stuart Kimber’s gracious foreword) 4 Coleman Street’s Children Contents and Overview Chapter Title and overview Page 1 Whys and wherefores 6 addresses such issues as: why write this book, constraints and considerations, aims and objectives, perspectives and assumptions, terms and conventions, sources and acknowledgements 2 Ancestors and inheritors 12 considers how Coleman Street fits into the wider Christian scene, both locally, further afield and historically, as part of the wider Brethren movement, together with a consideration of basic beliefs and practices, comparing with traditional and progressive Brethren 3 Birth and life 22 discusses the origins of Coleman Street, including a biographical sketch of William Iles (senior), and the work which went on before Coleman Street began, and presents a history of Coleman Street from the beginning (1900) up to the eve of World War 2 4 Life and death 35 provides a history of Coleman Street, including looking at key personalities, the continuance of works already in existence, new works began, from the start of World War 2 until the current day 5 Children and relations 48 provides a brief history of other Brethren assemblies and missions in South East Essex, including looking at key personalities, and the relationship of these various works with Coleman Street 6 Believing and doing 62 takes a critical look at those Coleman Street beliefs and practices, often seen to be part of the distinctive character of the Brethren movement, seeing how these compare with other places and what could be deemed as best practice, over the period of it’s existence 7 Now and beyond 79 reviews the current situation and activities at Coleman Street, ties up some loose ends, considers what conclusions might be drawn and finally looks ahead to the future, in particular what issues face the church, of which Coleman Street is part, and the vision needed 5 Coleman Street’s Children Chapter 1 - Whys and wherefores Give me children, or else I die (Genesis 30v1) A new millennium is about to dawn, with all the excitement and anxieties brought about in the wake of this event. We can also reflect on the enormity of changes in the past one hundred years. Less dramatically maybe, but the year 2000 is also the centenary of the foundation of Coleman Street Chapel, Southend, known originally, and until recently and to many still as Coleman Street Gospel Hall. (Before 1930 the street was more commonly referred to as Colman .) According to the notices given in the Southend Telegraph , meetings were held at the Plymouth Brethren, York House on 15 December 1900 but at the Open Brethren, Gospel Hall, Coleman Street on 22 December 1900. There are many in Southend, some further afield, some involved in Christian service, others not, who over the years have had associations with and have had their lives markedly influenced by what went on at Coleman Street. What went on in the past, particularly aspects that pertain to vital religion, continue to affect what happens now and in the future, and more widely than can ever be imagined, for who can limit the hand of the Almighty? It is awareness of these things, a respect and affection for the people involved, some of whom I knew or know well, a desire to set the record straight (and it needs to be), and because I want to tell a story worth telling, that has provided the impetus and motivation for writing this book. I want to describe events accurately so all can learn from and appreciate the past, even if we do things differently these days.

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