Goffs Oak Methodist Church

History

           The Church was established in Goffs Oak in the 19th Century. The Wesleyan Methodist existed on the north side of Goff's Lane in 1833.The 1860's were years in which the Primitive Methodist Connection was vigorously expanding its evangelising efforts in various rural areas.

A small community of farming folk around Goffs Oak who deeply cherished the Nonconformist way of religious life, and wanted to do something about it. There came into being a small Primitive Methodist "Preaching Station".  The Methodists in Goffs Oak were originally thought of as "Dissenters". This was back in the days when Goffs Oak was still a village and the population was estimated to be less than 600.

John King arrived on the scene in 1851 from Rede in Suffolk and became our local hero being a fervent pioneer in the building of the church. He served as a trustee for 53 years dying at the ripe old age of 98.

The first chapel built in 1868 was the First Primitive Methodist Chapel in Goffs Oak. It was big enough to seat 100 people. It's foundation stone simply said "This Stone Was Laid October 19th, 1868 By J. Fowl, Esq., of London. The money raised to build the chapel was through zealous endeavour by a small company of faithful and determined people Thus the Original Chapel was bought and paid for by the local congregation.

The first Chapel was built in Common Road (as Newgatestreet Road was at that time known). It drew packed congregations and became a centre of warm fellowship and simple worship. It was described as being built of 'unpretentious brick and slate' and the interior as being 'severely functional', but then what would one expect of 'Primitive Methodists' from which we evolved.  It seems from the earliest records it was part of the "Enfield Station of the  Primitive Methodist Connection".

The three other Churches  in this circuit were Enfield Chase Side (now the Salvation Army hall) Bush Hill Park and New Southgate. The original Methodist Chapel was built in the 1860's and provided worship right up when it was demolished. A new Methodist Church was built in the 1970's on the site of old chapel . The history of Goffs Oak Methodist Church covers nearly 150 years and gone through many changes. We are proud at Goffs Oak Methodist Church has represent our community through this period of time.

The Goffs Oak Methodist Church has been through three major changes. The first being the construction of the original Goffs Oak Methodist Chapel in 1868. The chapel stood firm until the 1950's when a building boom in housing made it feasible to extend the premises. A dual-purpose hall was built on adjacent land in 1957; this was used for worship. This second construction of a new multi-purpose Methodist Hall was completed next to the old church; this was used for worship. The old chapel remained and was utilised mainly for youth work until two prefabs eventually replaced it.  The last stage was the demolition of the old Chapel and prefabs and  they were replaced with the existing Goffs Oak Methodist Church that we have today. The present Goffs Oak Church was finished and consecrated in 1977 - on the site of the old Chapel.

Of course the church is so much more than the buildings. The community of faith has diligently worked to meet the changing needs of the local community over the years. There is a real sense of warmth and generosity in the welcome that is to be found there.

 The buildings have played a large part in the housing of various groups and therefore living a focal point to village life. The numbers attending for Sunday Worship may have decreased a little but there is no shortfall in real growth which can  be witnessed in the commitment to Prayer , Service and Pastoral Outreach which exemplifies the life of our Church.

The following account of how two people met and got involved in the rise of the new Church. (A happy accident led to a Building Surveyor arriving at just the right time. Don Clark gives a fascinating account of the rise of our Church building.)

The Origins of our Church   (An extract from ACORNS magazine written by Hazel and Don Clark)

 Serendipity

As the conversation progressed among the many bags and boxes that we still had not time to sort out, Donald asked me what I did for a living. When I told him that I was a buildings Surveyor, his face sort of 'lit up'. Donald told me that there was a plan which was dated 1955 drawn up for a Church which would have been erected next to the new  Church Hall, but there was a lack of money. He said he had been looking for someone who could help with the planning and building of the 'New Methodist Church' or a least a proper area  for worship, as they only had the Church Hall which was used for all Services and other activities during the week.

 We visited the Church on the Sunday morning, enrolled the children in the Sunday School, and met some of the congregation.

 Time passed, and there seemed to be a push to raise money for schemes which would provide a Sanctuary for the worship. It was suggested that a Chancel be put on the side of the building which faced on to Wesley Close, that the stage be turned into a Chancel - but this would restrict the use of the stage, which seemed to be quite considerable in those days. It was thought that the 'Projection Room' which is now known as the Beginners Room, could also be turned into a Chancel, and various other suggestions along the way.  

  More time passed and in total there were seven schemes for which plans were drawn up. along with this there were schemes to raise money as well, 'Gift Days' and 'Fete Days', Sponsored Walks, and other fund raising with the help of those living in the village. in the end it was felt that with guidance and help, we might - just might have enough money to build a Church with the help of Rank Trust, to support and serve the community. This brought additional problems, from planning, to further fund raising, the Circuit Minister was consulted, the congregation were consulted, the Rank Trust was consulted, The London Mission was consulted and plans were revised and re-revised.

As it got nearer in time, a builder had to be found, and Firmins was appointed when the plans were approved. I went to the Building Centre in  London and various other places to find the right bricks for the job, because as it would be a brick finish to the Sanctuary - it had to be an interesting brick, not an ordinary flat red brick! It was also felt that in planning the church it had to be able seat 200 people, in case of large services, and yet not to feel cramped for space.

 It was also felt that it had to be a flexible space, to be reduced or able to be expand if it was necessary and was therefore designed so that the back portion of the Church could be opened to allow greater space for worship. There would also be sliding doors that would shut off the Chancel during the week, to maintain part of the Church building for private  and personal prayer and meditation, whilst the rest of the space could be used for various meetings during the week. The sliding doors would be the full height of the Church, but would be heavy enough to be sound-proof but must still fit in with the décor.

There would be a separate entrance and hall, that would give access directly to the Church, and not through the entrance to the Church Hall. It had to be considered that a Bride and her retinue could make an entrance through the back of the Church in a dignified manner, right up to the Communion Rail. It had to be possible also for a Coffin to also be carried in the correct manner through the inside of the Church to its resting place. It was also considered that the raised dais would identify the centre of Worship and could also be rotated by ninety degrees to fit into the side part of the chancel, when  a small, intimate Service, with only a few people was necessary. Entrance would then still be possible through the main door of the Church.

After all these things were considered, it was felt that building could go ahead and the Youth Club, and Guides and Scouts were moved from the two prefabs that were on the existing site. When excavations commenced the original foundations were found. As the original Foundation Stone had been taken out of the original Chapel first built on this site, I felt it would appropriate for it to be laid at the front of the new Church, sitting over the original foundations, to serve a reminder of what our forbears had achieved in creating the Old Methodist Church on this sit over hundred years previously. I passed the building every day on the way home, andwas able to keep a strict eye on it as it was rising from the ground. At last it was finished and the Opening Day was held in 1976 and I was delighted to be present on this occasion, as were representatives of The Circuit, the Builders, previous Ministers and a very full congregation. I was even more delighted when my daughter was married in 1985 in the Church and I felt privileged to design this building for the Worship of God..

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