Clifton Hall was built in 1897 but the assembly began several years before this. Details are sketchy but what we know is that a group of Christians began a work amongst children near Norwood Junction railway station. This work grew and an assembly was formed. They first met in South Norwood High Street above a coffee shop. Numbers increased and eventually Denmark hall was built in Denmark Road, South Norwood to accommodate the new church. As numbers continued to increase, some Christians from the other end of South Norwood nearer to Thornton Heath and Croydon began a new assembly. They originally met near the Selhurst Railway station in a tin tabernacle named the "Iron Hall". This was at the end of Holmesdale Road which was unused railway ground now occupied by several blocks of flats.
Mr. Kingsbury, a wealthy believer, associated with this assembly purchased a joinery and the adjacent house and built Clifton Hall in 1897. Some thirty years later in 1929 the assembly formed a trust and bought the two properties from Mr Kingsbury.
The adjacent house was used for Sunday school work and numbers were so great in the early part of the 20th century that several class rooms were hired in the local school nearby, Whitehorse Manor School, to meet the need.
Numbers in fellowship was around 220 plus in the 1920s but decreased after World War 2 to nearer 120. A magazine, Clifton News, was launched in 1948 with a group of seven believers responsible for the production to inform the assembly of all the activities going on and stimulate interest and prayer.
Young people's work flourished with Pioneers in the 1950s and Jucos and Covenanter groups in the 1960s & 70s.
There were annual tournaments where sports and matches were played against other Juco and Covenanter groups from around the country.
Further details to follow ....
If you have had any links with Clifton Hall in the past and can help us with insights into its past history particularly before the 1970s, we will be pleased to hear from you.
Mr. Kingsbury, a wealthy believer, associated with this assembly purchased a joinery and the adjacent house and built Clifton Hall in 1897. Some thirty years later in 1929 the assembly formed a trust and bought the two properties from Mr Kingsbury.
The adjacent house was used for Sunday school work and numbers were so great in the early part of the 20th century that several class rooms were hired in the local school nearby, Whitehorse Manor School, to meet the need.
Numbers in fellowship was around 220 plus in the 1920s but decreased after World War 2 to nearer 120. A magazine, Clifton News, was launched in 1948 with a group of seven believers responsible for the production to inform the assembly of all the activities going on and stimulate interest and prayer.
Young people's work flourished with Pioneers in the 1950s and Jucos and Covenanter groups in the 1960s & 70s.
There were annual tournaments where sports and matches were played against other Juco and Covenanter groups from around the country.
Further details to follow ....
If you have had any links with Clifton Hall in the past and can help us with insights into its past history particularly before the 1970s, we will be pleased to hear from you.
