cannon street memorial baptist church

Cannon Street was born out of the dedication of a few people meeting together in 1737 in "hard and difficult times for the purpose of a "Revival for Religion". Up to 1737, Baptists living in Birmingham had to walk 14 miles to Bromsgrove each Sunday, but in the August of 1737, 17 of them, 10 women and 7 men were "dismissed" to form a new Church. At first they met together in a house, 38 High Street, not far from where the Rotunda now stands.

Later a plot of land in Cannon Street, part of Mr. Guest's cherry orchard, was bought for the "exceedingly low price of £13.00 It was large enough for a Church and also a burial ground. Like most Churches Cannon Street had its ups and downs. At one time, even in the early days, its closing down was seriously discussed, but fortunes changed and twice, in 1763 and 1780, it became necessary to enlarge the premises. Then in 1806, accommodation was so inadequate that a complete re-building was necessary. During the re-building Carrs Lane Congregational Church generously offered to share its premises with our members. An early example of ecumenical co-operation.

In Centenary Year, 1837, a special medal was struck to Commemorate the occasion. Membership which in 1774 was 102, had risen to 742 through the successful ministries of Samuel Pearce, Isaiah Birt, Thomas Morgan and Thomas Swan. Progress was maintained under Isaac Lord, who later became the first Minister of Christ Church, Six Ways, Aston.

Until 1870 closed communion was the rule, but open communion was then introduced, partly due to the fact that Christians from other Churches had been sharing in our worship.

Greater changes however were soon to be forced upon the Church. We are apt to think that re-development with its attendant compulsory purchase is a product of modern times. Our experience proves that this is not the case. In 1875 the city, under the leadership of Joseph Chamberlain, decided to drive a brand new thoroughfare Corporation Street in a straight line from New Street Station to the Old Square (now Priory Circus). Unfortunately it would pass right through our Church, which was compulsorily purchased for a sum of £26,500 and then demolished. And so ended the first and the longest chapter in our history.

1875 Cannon Street Trust

The compensation money was controlled by the Cannon Street Trust, which had the difficult task of deciding between the various claims made as to its use. Many would have liked to have seen it spent on a Central Baptist Church, to take its place alongside the Methodist Central Hall and the Congregational Church at Carrs Lane. Others thought a better use would be to subsidise the building of a number of new Churches in the rapidly developing suburbs of the city. For many years there was much heart searching and perhaps a little heart burning over the matter.

Eventually the idea of a Central Church was abandoned as impracticable. Suburban Churches which received substantial grants from the fund included Hagley Road, Hamstead Road, Stratford Road, Smethwick and Moseley. Smaller grants were made to Spring Hill, People's Chapel, Small Heath and Lodge Road.

Who would dare say, in the light of later developments, that their decision was not of The Spirit.

On the Move 1881-1930

For several years after the demolition of the Church in Cannon Street, meetings were held in hired rooms, but in 1881 Sunday Services were held in Birmingham Town Hall, with evening attendances exceeding 2,000. Eventually arrangements were made for the premises at Mount Zion, in Graham Street, to be purchased for the Church. Those previously worshipping there moved out to the Church of the Redeemer in Hagley Road, a new building paid for partly out of money from the Cannon Street Trust.

For over thirty years the Church worshipped at Mount Zion which was in the jewellery quarter in Birmingham. The more prosperous jewellers at that time built their desirable residences in Handsworth Wood.

It is probably unfair to single out individual Ministers for special mention, but a list of all our Ministers would be so lengthy that it would be little more than a catalogue. Two of the Ministers at Mount Zion may still be remembered. Rev. Waiter Hackney ministered to us for eleven years. A saintly man, he eventually became a professor at Spurgeon's College. He was followed in 1899 by a young man, straight from Bristol College. Rev. Ernest Price, whose name will always be associated with Calabar College and Calabar High School in Kingston, Jamaica.

The Church building itself was interesting. It was eight sided, with a gallery on seven sides. However, as the years passed, the population around the Church moved to the outer suburbs in ever increasing numbers and it was decided to close down Mount Zion and make another move.

Some of the members started the Church at City Road, after worshipping for a time with Spring Hill. The main stream moved to Handsworth, where a plot of land had been purchased at the corner of Soho Road and Alfred Road. Before building could be commenced came the First World War and so began many anxious and frustrating years of wandering in the wilderness.

Services were first of all held in Handsworth Council House, now the Public Library. Later they were held in the Grove Lane Council School. A serious crisis arose in 1920. It is difficult to keep up enthusiasm over as long a period as seven years and a Church meeting was called to discuss the advisability of closing the Church down. Of the small band of sixteen members present, seven voted for disbanding and nine said "carry on". We carried on.

The turn of the tide came in 1921. On the recommendation of Professor Hackney a young man, Rev. Frank V. Mildred, was invited to become our Minister. He accepted the challenge and came to us in May. Hopes of building the main Church had faded, as post-war inflation diminished the value of the money available. It was decided to build, first of all, the Church Hall. This was opened in September 1921. Soon accommodation was strained to the limit. The Primary Hall was built and every effort was made to raise enough money to justify starting on the main Church.

Mr. Mildred left us in 1926 for Blackpool Tabernacle. He was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Richards and it was on May 3rd 1930 that the present building was opened

Cannon Street and
the Baptist Missionary Society

In 1790 Samuel Pearce came to Cannon Street and in May 1791 he preached the evening sermon when Carey became pastor of the Harvey Lane Chapel, Leicester. Thus began a friendship which meant so much to the B.M.S. Pearce was one of that tiny group which met in the back parlour of Beeby Wallis in Kettering in October 1792, giving a guinea towards the total of £13-2-6 which was so sacrificially offered.

And so was born the Baptist Missionary Society. The following Sunday, back in Birmingham, he preached a missionary sermon. On the Tuesday, at a special Church meeting, the first B.M.S. Auxiliary was formed. A spontaneous offering was made amounting to over £70.

At the second meeting in Northampton, Pearce was a little late. Reports from the others present were not very encouraging, but when Pearce arrived and triumphantly dumped his £70 on the table, gloom was turned to joy - (and Pearce was immediately voted on to the committee.)

Disappointed at not being able to accompany Carey as a missionary, Samuel Pearce did not spare himself in seeking the support which was needed to ensure the success of the new Society. In the short space of nine years he burnt himself out in the service of his Master and died in 1799 at the same early age of thirty three years.

The Sunday School

It was also during Samuel Pearce's ministry that a Sunday School was started. In 1795 a school for Boys was inaugurated. Later it was extended to include Girls. The story of the Sunday School is quite fascinating, but space does not permit more than a brief mention.

Amongst mainly illiterate children classes were not divided according to age, but by reading ability. Those who could read the New Testament in the top class. Those who knew only the alphabet in the lowest. Later it was thought desirable to introduce arithmetic. As the Lord's Day was not considered the appropriate time for such a secular subject, arithmetic was taught on a week-night.

Soon there were over 1,000 scholars. A library was formed, and also a Sunday School Sick Benefit Society. For each halfpenny per week contributed the benefit was two shillings per week. The 100th Anniversary Services were held in Birmingham Town Hall.

Many years later, after the removal to Handsworth, the Anniversary Services were held in a variety of places. In the Handsworth Council House, the hall of Grove Lane School, The Grand Picture House, Soho Road, the Church Hall and the Church itself.

1930's - Second World War

Numerically the Church continued to flourish during this period. Handsworth was not badly affected by bombings but the war had its effect. The Church lost its Minister, Rev. Biscoe, to the forces and his continued service abroad meant that the Church had to rely on its deacons and visiting pastors. The following is a re-print of a letter to the Church sent by Rev. Biscoe in 1943.

W.T. Wiseman, Secretary Headquarters,
Cannon Street, Memorial Baptist Church,
British Troops in Egypt,
Handsworth, Birmingham. M.E.F.
20th March 1943.

Dear Mr. Wiseman,
Now that three and a half years of War have passed away and yet we cannot see the end, I am feeling that concerning the pastorate of the Church, it would be right for the members of the Church to feel they have full liberty of action. Three and a half years necessarily brings changes in membership thus involving a situation that did not obtain when one left home; and in this interregnum new people with new ideas have been gathered. 1 feel therefore that the Church should now feel entirely free so far as 1 am concerned to make what arrangements they wish concerning the future pastorate of the Church.
It is not easy to write this and it has only been borne in upon me after a considerable time of thought. Separation and the loneliness that comes with separation and all the thoughts of home make such a decision difficult when you are far away, and also all the problems of the future are continually suggesting themselves but God's Will must be done and we are in God's hands.
So 1 just leave you to seek God's way in his matter.
To those who have been kind to my dear wife and given her if only a little encouragement, 1 would say thank you. 1 will never forget those who have been my true friends. We have discovered those who are staunch and true in this War. It is a very big burden that we carry but God will help us to bear it. How much happier it makes us when we know there are good friends and true. When we come home again, if God means it for us, we shall come with our eyes wide open to. many things we did not see and know before.
1 shall try to do my duty to God and the fellows out here. Amongst one of my extras 1 have 30 candidates for the Baptist Ministry and a member of lay preachers, scattered throughout the Middle East. God is blessing us.
I should be glad to know how things are going with you all. 1 have heard nothing from you all for months now.
Goodbye and may we all have much joy soon in marvellous reunions.
Yours sincerely,

(Sd) W. H. BISCOE.
P.S. Please acknowledge the receipt of this letter by wire.

1950's

Handsworth has changed much in the last thirty years. Many people from the former Commonwealth countries came and made their homes in this part of the city. Coming mainly from the Punjab in India and Jamaica in the West Indies.