The church is located in the West End of Leicester, on the corner of Narborough Road and Upperton Road, close to Leicester Royal Infirmary and the De Montfort University. The area has a large British Asian and student population surrounding it. We take advantage of our prominent position to display thought-provoking posters to motorists waiting at the traffic lights.
The church buildings were finished in 1901, with a second function room added two years later (still called the New Room!). The story of our 'planting' by Harvey Lane Chapel, where both William Carey and Robert Hall had previously been ministers, is told in the First Manual of the ... Robert Hall Chapel, which includes a list of members in 1902.
In its heyday, the church was filled with some 850 people for services; owned land; had its own tennis club and drama society; and competed in choral festivals. These early years was are described in the Diamond Jubilee Souvenir Handbook, which includes a list of all the members in 1961.
A former member, Kevin Brown, has also told our history through the biographies of the ministers who have served us in our first hundred or so years.
Nowadays, average morning congregations are around 60 (ages 0-90+), with our membership being about the same figure. It is rare for the balconies to be used now but we have had "standing room only" downstairs for our Carols by Candlelight services. Other rooms in the building are regularly used by church and outside groups, enabling us to serve our community in a small way. Click here for a plan of the church.
Conscious of our responsibility to nurture and protect all who are part of our community, the church has drawn up a Health and Safety Handbook and an Environmental Policy for all activities and adopted Good Practice Guidelines for work with children and young people.