© The University of Manchester Library
The original Southcroft Hall was built in 1907. It was built in the parish of Streatham, South London, which today forms a part of the London Borough of Lambeth. Independent prayer meetings had been held at the house of Fred W. Davis from around the turn of the century. A solicitor, Mr. McKean, enabled the purchase of the land for the Hall with a gift of £500, with a local builder Mr. Thorp, providing £100. The rest of the cost was met through a mortgage which had been repaid by 1921.The congregation expanded in the nineteen twenties, and the large numbers of children attending the Wednesday evening meetings and the Sunday School necessitated the building of a larger Hall, completed in 1929.
For much of the century the Gospel was preached from the Hall in the spirit of independent worship associated with the Brethren tradition. Links were established with missionaries working in the field, and much work was done with children through the organisation of 'Covenanters'.
Decline set in in the 1980s. In order to continue with their work, they joined a chain of churches in South East London, ICHTHUS. There was major restoration work on the Hall following fungal infestation in 1957 and 1990. The latter expense exhausted the Hall's remaining funds, after which ICHTHUS maintained the Hall. The Hall ceased to be used for worship in the early 1990s, but the trusteees continued to be responsible for the Hall until the beginning of the twenty first century.
The bulk of the papers were deposited with the Universtiy some time ago and their history is not known.
The later accessions were in the possession of Frederick Holmes who inherited them from his father Frederick George Holmes, a member and elder of the Church from 1939 to c.1985, on his death in 2001.
The later accessions were donated to the Library by Frederick Holmes.
The collection contains documents relating to the day to day administration of the Hall and the worshippers in attendance, including minutes and correspondence of the elders and trustees, deeds and other official documents. There are circulars produced for worshippers, leaflets advertising services and other activities, souvenir booklets and newsletters. The collection would be of value to anyone interested in the day to day activities of a Brethren congregation, and the ups and downs of such a congregation in the course of the twentieth century.
None expected.
The papers have been divided into the following series:
The Later Accessions have been further subdivided into:
Papers of Southcroft Hall, Streatham, SHS/1 etc., The University of Manchester Library.
The collection is open to any accredited reader.
The collection includes material which is subject to the Data Protection Act 2018. Under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA), The University of Manchester Library (UML) holds the right to process personal data for archiving and research purposes, including sensitive personal data. In accordance with the DPA, UML has made every attempt to ensure that all personal and sensitive personal data has been processed fairly, lawfully and accurately. Users of the archive are expected to comply with the Data Protection Act 2018, and will be required to sign a form acknowledging that they will abide by the requirements of the Act in any further processing of the material by themselves.
Photocopies and photographic copies of material in the archive can be supplied for private study purposes only, depending on the condition of the documents.
A number of items within the archive remain within copyright under the terms of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; it is the responsibility of users to obtain the copyright holder's permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study.
Prior written permission must be obtained from the Library for publication or reproduction of any material within the archive. Please contact the Head of Special Collections, John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3EH.
Tim Grass,
Collection of notebooks and report itemising the activities of the church, including attendance at worship, meetings of elders and children's activities.
'Minutes of Business Meetings'
'Minutes of Business Meetings'
'Oversight Minutes'
'Oversight Minutes'
'Oversight Meetings'
'Oversight Minutes'
'Oversight Meetings'
'Oversight Meetings'
Contains lists of children's meetings with details of leader, subjects of talk, hymns and numbers of children present. Last few pages contain detailed notes on the conduct of children's meetings.
Mechanically reproduced typescript documents. 1948-1951 are headed 'Reports of Work', 1955 is headed 'Reports of Activities', and 1956-1962 are headed 'Family Gathering'.
Concerning attendance at chapel, mostly lists of those in fellowship. Some typescript, others handwritten.
Mechanically reproduced typescript documents. Includes statement of accounts, lists of those in fellowship, minutes of elders meetings.
Collection of account books and financial documents, including bank books and bank statements.
Plastic cover, Barclays Bank, includes 4 cheques and a letter advising that a bank book is no longer necessary.
Back of book (turned upside down) has been used to make detailed shorthand notes headed 'Copies of Correspondence'. There is also a small bundle of loose correspondence at back of book.
Plastic folder containing Barclays Bank Statements.
Rough notes and drafts correspondence.
Rough notes and drafts of correspondence.
Westbourne Park Building Society. Includes 2 photographic postcards:
Material related to the history of the Hall and printed items relating to regular worship.
Material bundled together in envelope with 'Southcroft 90th photos and final copies' written on front. Contains copy of printed booklet
Collection of publicity leaflets for Southcroft Hall and its services. Also contains a leaflet 'Historic Furzedown An Introduction' and a page of handwritten notes on the history of the Hall.
Collection of general administrative documents, including corresppondence, building estimates, insurance policies, a Land Registry document and a lease.
Held together with Treasury Tag. Detailed correspondence regarding the change of use of Southcroft Hall in relation to the Wandsworth Borough Plan Community Premises Policy.
Large bundle, includes correspondence relating to the day to day administration of the chapel, estimates for building work and statements of accounts.
Contains a list of publishers, a list of the contents of the 'Biblical Library' and list of 'Books Lent' with names crossed out.
Includes correspondence, insurance policies and Board of Trade Memorandum in War Damage Act, 1941 (part II) relating to insurance schemes.
From London and Lancashire Insurance Company insuring Streatham Hall Sunday School building.
Concerning repairs carried out at Southcroft Hall.
Policy from London and Lancashire Insurance Company relating to war damage.
Policy from London and Lancashire Insurance Company relating to war damage.
Employers' Indemnity Policy from Employers' Liability Assurance Corporation Ltd., and related correspondence.
Guarantee of repayment of £250 for the Southcroft Hall Extension Fund.
Collection of correspondence, leaflets, administrative material and membership lists relating to Southcroft Hall.
These papers have been arranged as follows:
Letters and other documents relating to Southcroft Hall, Streatham
The correspondence has been left in the original order, as sorted by Frederick Holmes before depositing them with the Library.
Bundle of letters and other documents consisting of typescript circular letters, a statement of accounts, 'Reports of Work', letters from missionaries in the field, a newspaper cutting, and a reprint of a publication concerning the work of Echoes of Service in Tanganyika.
Correspondence and other documents concerning the administration of Southcroft Hall premises and related matters.
Correspondence concerning the administration of Southcroft Hall, and a collection of circular letters.
The leaflets have been left in the original order. Some have been placed in numbered
sequences in pencil. Many have numbers printed on the back or front, such as
Bundle of leaflets relating to events and services at Southcroft Hall.
Collection of Souvenir booklets relating to Southcroft Hall and other assemblies. Newsletters related to Southcroft Hall
Souvenir booklet from Victoria Hall, Wandsworth Common:
Souvenir Booklet:
Souvenir Booklet, Southcroft Hall, Streatham:
Three issues of
Legal and administrative documents relating to Southcroft Hall and the activities of the trustees.
The documents have been left in the original order, as sorted by Frederick Holmes before depositing them with the Library.
Bundle of official documents including the deeds of Southcroft Hall
Bundle of minutes of the meetings of the Elders of Southcroft Hall. Also includes accounts, agendas and other related documents, and a list of 'Southcroft Expatriates', relating to those who moved elsewhere.
Bundle of documents relating to the 'Southcroft Trust'. Includes correspondence, agendas and minutes of meetings of trustees.
Membership list of 'The Girl Covenanters'.