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History of PCC
This page is under construction, but a few snippets may appear as time permits.
Progress: The text of the page-to-be is complete and awaiting preparation of accompanying pictures. Copies of the text alone are available from the webmaster on request. |
Saga of the Tin 'All
 PCC, like several Penge churches, began with a corrugated iron hall, known locally as the "Tin 'All", or even "Tin Cathedral" (top photo). The 'All, erected in 1908, was used until 1911 when the Kenilworth Hall was finished and building of the present church was about to start. It was resold to Southall Congregational Church in Middlesex. Subsequently, Southall church became the Sikh Guru Granth Gurdwara ("Gurdwara" translates roughly as "God's Place"). In 1986, we were sent a photograph (middle) with "our" part of the building still in place (less its steeple), under the name "Mangat Hall". It was finally demolished in 2001, and the bottom photo shows the sad remains in March 2002.
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A Bit of Barson Memorabilia
 In June 2003 a resident of Thornsett Road appeared after a morning service carrying this large, rusted, enamelled notice which had been uncovered blocking a hole in her garden fence. The house in Thornsett Road was PCC's manse from 1931 to 1937, but we have yet to find a picture showing the notice outside the church.
Revd Ernest Barson was our first Minister, serving the Church for 38 years from 1909 to 1947. The huge letters of his name may seem somewhat ostentatious, but his stature in the community cannot be understated. The history of Penge links his name with many local organisations and committees, among them the "Penge Parliament" debating society and the Penge Education Committee, of which he was Chairman for many years.
Thornsett Road has had more than its share of notable residents, including poet Walter de la Mare and Thomas Crapper who marketed the WC. A Miss Eva Croucher ran a private school there, and used to take the children's shoes for repair to one of our Church Members, the late Tom Perry, at his shoemaker's shop nearby in Croydon Rd.
PCC has had several manses over the years: 14 & 7 Avenue Road (No 14 was later owned by Dr Hamilton); 35 Thornsett Rd; 9 Elm Road (next door to Baptist Minister Revd R Stewart Fleming, coincidentally Chairman of the Beckenham Education Committee, and after whom the school is named); 1 & 17 Reddons Road; and the present one in Kenilworth Road. It is amusing to relate that the Barsons moved to Elm Road "to be nearer the church ... Very few people discovered where we were [in Thornsett Road]." Elm Road and Thornsett Road are, in fact, both about 1˝km from the church, which would be considered much too far away today.
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