Service of celebration at former Ebenezer Methodist Church in Halifax marks 200 years of church buildings on the site

Mayor and Consort with Roy Sykes, a former member of Ebenezer who was first taken to the building when he was 5 years old.

There was a service of celebration at the former Ebenezer Methodist Church on Sunday to mark 200 years of church buildings on the site.

The service was attended by the Mayor of Calderdale, Coun Angie Gallagher, and her consort, Jim Gallagher.

The congregation included people from Calderdale Methodist Circuit, Halifax Central Church and Christians Together Calderdale.

Those taking part in the service included Geoff Butler (Chair New Ebenezer Management Group), Dave Fawcett (Christians Together Calderdale), Heather Smith (Halifax Central Church), Revd’s Colin Sherwood and Vicky Atkins (Superintendent) from the Calderdale Methodist Circuit.

Cabbage Lane is a now unknown street name in Halifax, but 200 years ago it was a rough track at the bottom of Pellon Lane; it is now known as St James Road.

The Halifax of 200 years ago was seen as a relatively godless place, which caused the Primitive Methodists of Barnsley to send missionaries who established Methodist societies at Kew Hill (above Blackley), Lindwell in Greetland, and Halifax.

The zeal of the people of Halifax enabled the construction of a building along Cabbage Lane, which provided a base for much worship and work in the community until a new building was built on the site in 1922.

The new building existed as a church until its final service on January 8, 2012.

Since then, there has been a partnership between the Halifax Food Support Drop In, Halifax Central Church and the Calderdale Methodist Circuit in keeping the building open and as a place of mission in the Halifax town centre.

Geoff Butler has used information available from the past to prepare a brochure which deals with the history of the buildings. The brochure can be obtained at a cost of £5, and all proceeds will be given to the Food Support Drop In. The cost of the brochures has been covered by The Calderdale Methodist Circuit.

He said: “The history of the way in which the building and that area of Halifax has undergone tremendous change over the 200 years, is covered in the brochure, and its continuing Christian witness, was certainly a reason for celebration.”

A copy of the brochure can be obtained from the partner organisations, or by emailing Geoff Butler at [email protected].