|
Members of Barry Island
Wesleyan Methodist Church, like so many others in the late
1890's, met in rooms in member's homes, until the numbers
wishing to join in the services became so many that an
alternative venue was needed. This was found in the upstairs
room of a shop in the Triangle. When this too became
overcrowded, a decision was taken to build a Chapel on the
Island. In 1901 building work started, and in September the same
year, it opened for worship. The description of the Church on
its opening was "The Church is built in red brick with
Bathstone dressings, and is entered from the eastern end through
double doors into a large porch. The Church is 53ft 6ins long by
30ft wide, complete with a vestry 18ft by 10ft. It has folding
doors to enable the Church to accommodate seating for over 300".
The builder was Mr. David Morgan of The Parade, Barry, and the
Architect was Mr. Birkenhead of Cardiff. The total cost of the
building was £900.
The Rev. T. Hind of the Penarth circuit conducted the opening
service, and Alderman Agar, who was presented with a silver key
by the architect for the purpose, formally opened the hurch. The
Rev. David Young conducted the first service.
In 1905 further work took place with the building of two new
schoolrooms designed by Mr. Birkenhead, and built by S.S. Martyn
of Barry. Mrs. C.H. Bailey of Newport opened one of these
schoolrooms with a suitably inscribed silver key. She commented
that the first bazaar she had ever opened, and now this, the
first opening ceremony that she had ever performed, were both at
Wesleyan Churches. She also noted that her great grandfather,
William Hardcastle, was a Wesleyan minister converted by John
Wesley himself.
In 1914 the building was taken over and converted for use as
a hospital, which was staffed by members of the St. John
Ambulance Brigade for the duration of the First World War. It
finally closed as a Hospital in December 1919 and the building
was handed back to its members.
During its time as a Hospital it treated nearly 4,000 bed
patients and 30,000 outpatients. At one time so many wounded
arrived in Barry, that tents, marquees and wooden buildings were
erected and pressed into service as temporary accommodation for
the wounded.
Amongst the members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade who
served at Barry Island was F.R. Hortop, Divisional
Superintendent. Mrs Pardoe was later appointed Superintendent
and at the end of the war was awarded the OBE. Mrs M.Lucas,
Departmental Superintendent was awarded the Order of St. John
for her efforts. Other members were C. Lennox and A. Paul (both
ambulance officers), Sgt. T. Morris, Corp. J. Collins and J.
Dally, all of whom were conscripted into the R.A.M.C on call-up.
Another member, W.H. Adams, was invalided out of the war but
served at Barry Island as a V.A.D.
At first most of the equipment used was donated, and the
organisation of the hospital was undertaken on a voluntary
basis, but later the War Department gave the hospital funds to
enable it to cater for more patients. Sgt. George Clemett
organised events to raise money for equipment. Doctors Budge,
Kent and Scott were the hospital's medical officers. As a
tribute to the work carried out by the St. John Ambulance
Brigade the Church was re-named St. John Methodist Church.
In 1923 after renovation and the addition of new stops, the
pipe organ at the church was re-opened. Mr Fred Jones of
Cardiff, who played the organ on its installation in 1920, gave
a recital. The organ, which is one of the oldest in South Wales,
was built by Jas. Horton of London in the 18th century. It gave
good service in one of the churches in Newport before being sold
to St. Peter's RC Church in Cardiff, who later sold it to St.
Paul's Church, Barry, where it was used for many years until it
was finally acquired by the Barry Island Church.
During the Second World War the Schoolroom of the Church was
used as a Forces Canteen, but services were permitted to be held
in the main Church. |
