Our History (in a nutshell) 1973 - 2023
In the beginning, there were two churches….
Aston Park Congregational Church,
opened in October 1874, was located in Park Road near the junction with Victoria Road, on the City side. That junction was replaced by the current Victoria Road/M38 interchange, more of that later. The church had seating available for 550 people on the ground floor and 350 on the three sided gallery upstairs.
In 1882 the School Room (the building shown on the right in the photo above) was completed; it had a potential capacity of 300 people. The church survived two world wars but in the mid 1950's the Main Church became too expensive to maintain and was demolished. The congregation continued to thrive in the School Room but then came along the M38 Aston Expressway. Nothing was going to stand in its way and so with the help of the Birmingham City Council a new church was built in Upper Sutton Street.
That was 50 years ago…...
Wheeler Street Congregational Church,
Started a Sunday School in 1832. The Church itself opened in 1839 and was located on the site now occupied by the Sri Dasmesh Sikh Temple in Wheeler Street, Lozells. The congregation grew rapidly to the extent that a larger church, to accommodate 1000 people, was built in 1860. This also had seats on the ground floor and two galleries. This building was severely damaged by enemy bombing, in WWII. After a period when the Wheeler Street congregation were guests at St. Georges Church, Handsworth, the original church, which had been used as a lecture hall, was reconsecrated in 1948 with full restoration being achieved in 1956.
As a response to the ministry being vacated in 1959, the then moderator of the Congregational Union, Dr. W H Coggan, suggested that Wheeler Street and Aston Park should consider becoming a joint pastorate.
After much discussion and prayer this was agreed upon by both Churches.
Joining together
In 1960 the two churches became a joint pastorate under the leadership of the Rev. Harold Stentiford. Then came the Aston Expressway mentioned earlier. The opportunity was taken to sell the Wheeler Street premises and for the combined congregations to move into the new Church building in Upper Sutton Street. In 1972 the Congregational Church of England and Wales joined with the Presbyterian Church of England to form the United Reformed Church (URC).
South Aston United Reformed Church opened its doors for the first time in October 1973.
And here we are celebrating 50 years of happy fellowship and service to the community of South Aston.
More comprehensive histories of the two churches can be found on our website – www.southastonurc.co.uk
50 years at the heart of the community!!
Aston Park Congregational Church,
opened in October 1874, was located in Park Road near the junction with Victoria Road, on the City side. That junction was replaced by the current Victoria Road/M38 interchange, more of that later. The church had seating available for 550 people on the ground floor and 350 on the three sided gallery upstairs.
In 1882 the School Room (the building shown on the right in the photo above) was completed; it had a potential capacity of 300 people. The church survived two world wars but in the mid 1950's the Main Church became too expensive to maintain and was demolished. The congregation continued to thrive in the School Room but then came along the M38 Aston Expressway. Nothing was going to stand in its way and so with the help of the Birmingham City Council a new church was built in Upper Sutton Street.
That was 50 years ago…...
Wheeler Street Congregational Church,
Started a Sunday School in 1832. The Church itself opened in 1839 and was located on the site now occupied by the Sri Dasmesh Sikh Temple in Wheeler Street, Lozells. The congregation grew rapidly to the extent that a larger church, to accommodate 1000 people, was built in 1860. This also had seats on the ground floor and two galleries. This building was severely damaged by enemy bombing, in WWII. After a period when the Wheeler Street congregation were guests at St. Georges Church, Handsworth, the original church, which had been used as a lecture hall, was reconsecrated in 1948 with full restoration being achieved in 1956.
As a response to the ministry being vacated in 1959, the then moderator of the Congregational Union, Dr. W H Coggan, suggested that Wheeler Street and Aston Park should consider becoming a joint pastorate.
After much discussion and prayer this was agreed upon by both Churches.
Joining together
In 1960 the two churches became a joint pastorate under the leadership of the Rev. Harold Stentiford. Then came the Aston Expressway mentioned earlier. The opportunity was taken to sell the Wheeler Street premises and for the combined congregations to move into the new Church building in Upper Sutton Street. In 1972 the Congregational Church of England and Wales joined with the Presbyterian Church of England to form the United Reformed Church (URC).
South Aston United Reformed Church opened its doors for the first time in October 1973.
And here we are celebrating 50 years of happy fellowship and service to the community of South Aston.
More comprehensive histories of the two churches can be found on our website – www.southastonurc.co.uk
50 years at the heart of the community!!
