RIDLEY HALL - A HISTORY
This was is taken from an address given by our Pastor on the occasion of the opening of the new building
on 9th June 2001.
It is my task this afternoon to relate to you the ways of Almighty God with this local church here in Battersea. I have been a member since my conversion in June 1956. I was called to become the Pastor in November 1969; these are my credentials as I endeavour to relate the ways of God in this place.
The early history is not well recorded but on our Centenary in 1984 I was able to glean some facts. We have a poor heritage; the early days are not good reading. The early believers bought a piece of farmland, which consisted of the land we still own, plus the area toward Queenstown Road. A schoolroom was built and the church was planned for the corner site. Within a few short years, the original Pastor had gone, the work declined and within 20 years the corner site had been sold and the small classroom with 3 rooms down one side was all that was left. That schoolroom could easily have been sold off through the early years of the 20TH century.
The records show that the original building was let out to various preachers of the Gospel each Sunday at a rental of one shilling (5p in our money today). Around 1920 a man called Mr Christmas came on the scene and with the help of Mr Briggs, he began the work of a local church. There was a stone in the original wall commemorating him. He was much loved by the poor of the district and many of the older folk remembered him fondly when I began to work here. When Mr Christmas died we find that the church fell into the hands of some men who did not appear to be Christians. It was a sad period through the late 30’s before the Second World War. It was only the fact that there were a few true believers here that sustained the work. The war was a devastating time but we have with us still the lady who kept the doors open each Lord’s Day. Often it was just her and her sister and Miss E Webb.
After the war, there were a small group of believers who laboured to keep the light of the Gospel alive. I look at the records and wonder how they maintained things. I was brought to Ridley Hall in 1956, the building was an awful sight but there was a small group of earnest Christian people here. Slowly the church began to grow, but there was no Pastor, no leader. In the late 50’s a man was called to the pastorate on a part time basis and did good work here but he only remained for 4 years. When he left, the work declined once more. Four of our young families felt the need to leave the district to enable them to buy houses. Just two families remained and I had had to move out to Norbury and commute from there.
In 1967 we were down to 8-10 people in our services, we nearly died once again. I estimate that there were five occasions in those first eighty years when the church could so easily have closed its doors. I tell you these things because I firmly believe that God kept the doors open for such a day as this. Many church buildings, all over the country, have been closed and sold off for commercial use but God kept His hand upon this small place. Why?
For myself, I grew up in Mitcham, Surrey but God brought me to Battersea and I was converted here. Many of my friends left Ridley Hall one after the other but I could not. My early workdays were spent in banking and insurance but at the age of 22years I went into business with my father and spent a number of years in the building trade. Initially I found it interesting but later it became very difficult to maintain that interest. Little did I know then that God had His hand upon my training. I never did learn any trade very well, my father was the expert, I was more the business mind and the boy, but I learnt bits and pieces that have been put to the Lord’s use. I was shocked to be called by the few workers here to take on the Pastorate in 1969. Our morning services were held in a side room, our evening services could have been held in the same room, 10 adults and 2 children each week. BUT, it was made very clear to me by God that I was to take up the pastorate, though I would have to continue in the business because there was no money to pay me. One of the ways, in which God confirmed the appointment, was to move my family from Norbury to Battersea, that may seem easy to some of you but in 1969, as today, house prices in Norbury were considerably lower than in Battersea. I had no spare money, and four growing children and yet God brought us to the local area.
I was inducted into the pastorate in November 1969 and a message was sent from a very experienced pastor in Surrey that he could not see it lasting two years. He saw, quite rightly, that I had had no Bible training, I had to establish some authority among those who were my friends and I suppose I was not really minister material. I say this in case any of you should think that it is a man at the back of it all. To confirm that, in 1982, two years before our centenary, a young man wanted to come here for training for two years. His father was an eminent minister in Scotland and he sought to prevent the lad from coming because he felt that he would learn nothing here. In Scotland in the Free Church, you must have a degree and 3 years Bible training before you can go into the ministry. I left school at 16 so you can appreciate this father’ misgivings. Then again in 1990, I was told very clearly that I had led Ridley Hall as far I could and that it was time to step aside and to let someone else more qualified or proficient to take the work on. From these things you can see that it is not the man-but it is God who has taken us on.
From the early 70’s, in God’s goodness, there has been the need to expand and with my minimal building experience, the first task was to utilise a raised garden at the rear of the church. A small group of us put in the foundations, I cringe now when I think of our ladies pushing wheelbarrows laden with earth down the side alley and out to a skip in St. Philip Street. About eight of us were involved in that task for a year and eventually we bought a pre-cast building costing in the region of £1,300.00, a vast sum to us. It gave us an added facility for Sunday School and youth work but we still had to use our church for recreational evenings.
In the late 70’s we endeavoured to buy the corner bakery shop but the owner, Mr Hato was so anti Christian that he pledged himself to buy Ridley Hall before he would sell us the property. I approached the owner a year later and he was most objectionable but shortly afterwards, he sold out to the Peabody Trust and we immediately approached the trust. The building was in a terrible state, holes in the roof, the bottom part a haven for mice and I think that Peabody Trust were glad of a buyer. We agreed a price, they rang my then church secretary to ask if we had the £3,000.00. deposit, we did not but he told them that when it was required, the Lord would provide it. Peabody Trust did not understand the God that we have, they thought we were off our head and would have no further dealings with us. They put a ‘FOR SALE; board on the corner for all to see. We prayed that God would hide the board from people’s eyes and He did, for a whole year. I was then able to go to Peabody Trust with a viable scheme to buy the property and they relented and agreed to deal with us. We had a Thanks Offering which yielded almost £3,000.00. the difference Miss Webb reminds me, was made up by the sale of metal from the ovens. We had to borrow £27,000.00, which again is a different story, but God over-ruled and the purchase was made. My father agreed that our company would finance the renovations and be re-embursed later. The members, few though they were, with a number of the young people, managed to refurbish the whole place. I still remember a member who has come back today, having all the top windows out and working upon them with 2 or 3 youngsters. With God’s help and guidance, we managed to house six of our young people in the flats, two of whom remain with us to this day. It gave us room for an entrance vestibule, an office, a kitchen and a lounge for meetings, especially as the prayer meeting was growing. It was only after we had purchased the property that three different people approached me regarding its sale and were amazed to discover that a notice board had been up proclaiming that the property was to be sold and said that they had never seen the notice!!!.
In the early 80’s I was approached by a church member, on behalf of her landlord. I had heard that he was eccentric but when I went to meet him, the first sight I had was of a tramp. He had been an actor of some repute, his wife had died and he had rapidly declined to the point where he could not look after himself or his property. He told me he had no money and that he could not get hold of the deeds of his property, that the solicitors had lost them. My wife worked in a solicitor’s office and I agreed to try and help him to obtain them, which I thought would be an easy task. It took six months of writing, threatening legal action, and finally an angry confrontation with the Battersea office and low and behold! the documents suddenly came to light. It was good to place them in Mr Stanislaw’s hands that Christmas. I said my goodbyes and suggested he sold one of his properties and his money problems would then be over. I did not see him again until I received a telephone call the following March, saying he had thrown himself into a pond on Clapham Common, either to commit suicide or as a cry for help. He pleaded for help, I had to tell him that I had now given up a business life to serve the Lord and that I could not take on such a load. Wandsworth Council learned of my contact and pleaded with me to get him to respond to their refurbishing of Queenstown Road, only two blocks had now to be renovated. It was with great reluctance that I agreed to help but it was the means of providing housing for many of our members who were getting married or who wanted to leave home and live in Battersea. The Lord is always one step ahead of us. We ended up with seven of the twelve flats in Queenstown Road and we still occupy them although the freehold passed back to Peabody Trust in 1997.
After much had been achieved, I received a message from Mr Stanislaw asking if I could take him to a solicitor. He informed me that his heir had just died at the age of 50. And he wanted to make another will. He then told me that it was to be in my favour. I remonstrated with him, telling him that it could be a great hindrance to the work, somebody could easily think that as a pastor, I had wheedled my way into his good books etc;. He was adamant, it was his money and he could do what he liked with it. I told him that it would immediately be passed over to the church if he gave it to me. He said, that was my responsibility.
Mr Stanislaw died in the late 80’s, and the properties were duly given to the church. What was God’s purpose now? It was hard to see! I could only think it was for the Gospel. We employed a man to evangelise among the Muslims in South London. We also took on a man to assist me in the ministry, believing we were using the money in the right way. Both of those ventures came to a sad and uncomfortable conclusion. What was it all for? God was well ahead of us. God was well ahead of us. We were determined not to squander it, it was the Lord’s money and there had to be a purpose. We sold the two houses because of the distance from the church and bought a house in St. Philip Street as a future manse. We put the money from the other house into the bank, with good housekeeping the money increased and trebled.
It was in 1994 that our Sunday School began to grow and the Superintendent suggested there was a need for larger premises. But the Sunday School fluctuated as I watched carefully. We began a youth group and that grew and we needed extra facilities but above all, the congregation began to increase and the church became uncomfortably full especially on Sunday mornings. We had all kinds of ideas but my thought was to an extension property for the youth work. We then began to look. My concern was one of safety, should we get into any difficulties we would be able to sell it, probably at a profit. We tried a number of places, and as I look back, some of the schemes were rather grandiose. This was all to no avail. Were we right to use the money this way? Finally, at the Annual General Business Meeting in January 1999, it was agreed to look into the possibility of developing our own church site. My heart was not really in it, I knew it would be a mountainous task, money would be short, we would be in the hands of builders, what would happen if it became a white elephant and the honour of the Lord was crushed in the district? But the motion was passed and we employed a company to test the soil to see if we could have a basement. The result of the soil survey was positive. My heart was still not set on this work.
In April 1999, Dr David Mann, a missionary in Madagascar, came home on furlough and I asked him to preach on our Church Anniversary weekend. He preached on Isaiah Ch.53. especially Vi 1 and then applied it by moving into Ch.54. His second point was that we should enlarge. V.2. says, “Enlarge the place of your tent and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, Do not spare, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes”. My wife and I looked at each other amazed. Did Dr. Mann know of our decision at the AGM? I asked him later and he was surprised at the way God had used him. I had to put my heart into this.
Where were we to go while rebuilding was in progress? Where do we find a builder we can trust? How were we to keep the Gospel work going on? Where could we store all the things of the church? These were some of the things, not yet prayers, running through my mind because I hardly knew where to start. I thought it must start with a builder — but many were more concerned with where we would go — to me, that would come later when we knew the time schedule of the building work. God was before us again; He knew the concerns of the people. One month after Dr Mann came, we were working among young people in a local school and the Headmistress asked me about the building. I told her that we were moving forward. “Where are you going during the rebuilding?” she asked. “I do not know yet” I replied. “Why don’t you come here?” she said. “We cannot, we need to use it every evening of the week and all day on Sunday. We need constant access and storage, I am sure that no school can do that” I said. “Give me one week to speak to the Governors.” She was true to her word. And came back to tell us that we could have all that we required. I would say to that head — if she was here now — God used that to give to a few of our people, the assurance that He really was in this venture. They were hesitant at first but that convinced them. Linda King is leaving in the summer but God put you there for such a time as this. Thank you for all you have done for us. I will come back to you.
We needed a builder, the church in Battersea Park Road have had two builders, both went bankrupt, they spent a great deal of money and have just one toilet and two rooms out of it. I had five builders on my list, four rapidly disappeared and I was reluctant over the fifth. His wife was a good friend of my daughter and I did not want to do anything to harm that. After much prayer, I spoke to him and we began to move forward. He was efficient and businesslike and I had peace about it. A price was agreed, which leads me on to finance.
Finance. This district is astounded as to where the money has come from. It all began from the sale of one of Mr Stanislaw’s houses. With care of rents, interest and the giving of God’s people we were able to treble that first deposit. My deacons have often thought me tight fisted but I believe that we must take great care of God’s money. Half of the money required was carefully saved and put away. Then we had to consider a loan. How much could we sensibly repay each month? No christian organisation would look at the amount we wanted. Public companies I approached would not even consider us. Again God overruled; we were able to borrow one third of the cost from a public company. I am not sure how it went through but we had it. One sixth came from sacrificial giving by other churches and individuals outside and inside the church. We are not too far short of all that is required and I can thankfully say that the builder and I have not had one acrimonious word over money, we have not had any harsh word over the work or the materials. I will go on record to say that he is the fairest man I have ever met in the building trade and I trust that his business will flourish in the days to come. I believe again that the Lord raised you up for such a time as this. You have provided a building far in excess of our expectations.
We had a blip on timing because of the water level but he re-organised, and almost finished to time. We thank you for all you have done for us and for your presence here today. We wanted to give you something but had no idea what we could possibly buy for you and for Linda King. We commissioned a wood carver to carve the frontage of the church onto a plaque, it could remind you of our assurance that you both have been used by God, perhaps without you realising it. Also, I would like to give you a copy of the greatest thing in this world, a copy of the Word of God. We believe it is God’s revelation to mankind. It is an invaluable book.
So God has brought us to this time. We have these wonderful new premises, we desire that they may be rightly used by God through the local church here.
1)To maintain the Truth of God’s Holy Word. 2 Tim,4.v3&4.
2) To worship the Almighty in ways that please Him. Not in any way to please ourselves.
John 4.
3) To preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to sinners.2 Tim.4.v2.4.
4) To be a true local church, loving each other, expressing the love of Christ to this neighbourhood. Col. 3.vl2-14
God has wonderfully provided a sanctuary, which may be kept as such - we have never had that before. We have no empty chairs to be filled.
He has provided a fine sports hall down below that can be used, should God see fit to save in a mighty way.
We are providing classrooms for Sunday School and have the possibility of extra partitioning.
You can see clearly that God has always been ahead of us, putting things in place, preparing for whatever He wants to do. Often, He does not use the wise and competent, the men and women of great gifts because they would have the opportunity to boast. He uses those of us who are nothing so that all the glory may be His. That is our message to you today. 1 .Cor. 1 .v.26.
One more thing, last September, God led the church to appoint our Elder to full time service for a year. In the midst of all our expense, we felt it was right in His sight. We could not have got by without that appointment. It was another way in which we saw God leading us and we, humanly speaking, would not have dared to spend that extra money like that. But God knew and forced us to trust Him for yet more. We have endeavoured in the last month to complete the works that we could not afford to have done. The lounge area, and the development of the rear hall. The standard set for us by our builders has been very hard to match, and we have quite a lot of unfinished work to complete but we are functional. We have done all that we could according to the gifts we have been given.
Peter E Andrews.
