The Beginning
In 1898 a group of men and women belonging to the Methodist New Connexion decided that a new Church was needed in Hillsborough.
First a site had to be procured and this proved difficult until Mr J Willis Dixon agreed to sell the freehold for the site for £547 on condition that buildings worthy of the District were erected. Plans had to be prepared and accepted for the new Church and School with all its necessary offices. It is interesting to note that the space on the Dorothy Road side of the Church was reserved in the first place to permit the erection of a Ministers’ Manse or a Caretakers’ dwelling.
Meanwhile, Divine Worship was held for about nine months, on Sunday evenings at half past six in a Girls Classroom at Hillsborough Board School. Then in September 1899 a move was made to an Iron Church in Leader Road.
In February 1901 came the formal ceremony of turning the first sod on the plot of land where the new Church was to be erected. Work progressed in earnest to the approved design. The local press said “When completed, at an estimated cost of £5000, the Church will be an ornament to the neighbourhood and will give architectural grace to the District”. The designer was Mr John Firth of Oldham and there was to be seating accommodation for 450.
Later in the year the foundation stone laying ceremony was performed. Mr Charles Wardlow presided and many prominent people took part. one part of this ceremony is of particular interest. Mr F J Bramwell of Scotland Street inserted a bottle in a recess beneath the main foundation stone at the centre of the building. It contained copies of the current issues of the Sheffield daily papers, a circuit plan for the current quarter, an abridgement of the rules and summary of the doctrines maintained by the New Connexion Church, the names of the Trustees, a photo of the Rev H Hope (Circuit Minister), a programme of the days proceedings, a view of the elevation of the Church and a few coins of the latest issue.
The Church was opened on 1st September 1902 by the Rev M J Binks, the President of the Connexion. At the time of the opening there were 40 adult members and 200 Sunday School Scholars