Hidden Places: Methodist Central Hall

Some buildings placed on Corporation Street always got my attention. And as it is part of my daily journey back home, it’s great to spot more and more particularities about them all.

I guess I also have a thing for terracotta ones. Methodist Central Hall is the one that fascinates me the most. Not just for its distinctive features and impressive tower but also for the history of this fantastic Grade II listed building located opposite Magistrates Court.

Having the opportunity to visit inside it through a Hidden Places Birmingham event was just the perfect opportunity to also walk inside its history.

To start with, it’s absolutely huge. Built in 1903 by Ewan Harper & James A. Harper, the space was a respectful congregation used to keep the good souls out of the devil of alcohol until the early 80’s.

Some buildings placed on Corporation Street always got my attention. And as it is part of my daily journey back home, it’s great to spot more and more particularities about them all.

I guess I also have a thing for terracotta ones. Methodist Central Hall is the one that fascinates me the most. Not just for its distinctive features and impressive tower but also the history of this fantastic Grade II listed building.

Having the opportunity to visit inside it through a Hidden Places Brum event was just the perfect opportunity to also walk inside its history.

To start with, it’s huge. Built in 1903 by Ewan Harper & James A. Harper, the space was a respectful congregation used to keep the good souls out of the devil of alcohol until the early 80’s.

Mission work was varied, projects grew, projects changed, new ideas came along, increasing needs meant the Mission had to flexible and quick to respond. Work was not confined to within the city but branched out to areas of Aston, Nechells and Hockley.

In the early nineties it also worked in areas of Kingsbury, Kingstanding, Perry Common and Ladywood, and later in Alvechurch, Tysley and Sheldon.

DURING THE VICTORIAN ERA non-conformist churches helped provide much needed aid to the poor, in what seems to have been a two-way relationship offering benefits to all. The church offered food, clothing, shelter and health care and, in return, they received the pooris trust, faith and gratitude which inevitably led to increased attendances at Sunday services, conversions and memberships.

Pretty ironic to say the same venue would become a very famous nightclub in 1991. Since its closure in 2002, the building has remained empty until open as Q Club again in 2007.

The state of the building remains the same, looking a bit scruffy and battered.

Just having a look inside it it’s possible to get a gist of how days of praise used to work when it was a church and the vibrant nights used to end up as a nightclub.

It’s a  magnificent venue!  The narrow corridors seem like a labyrinth that leads you to more empty rooms or spaces filled with some old furniture.

I love the big stained glass windows. Some of them need some TLC.  But they also fit part of the scenery perfectly.

The altar is where you can get the best view of the whole arena. And to complete it there is what looks like an organ still left next to the choir area.

The architecture that survived the time from a past worship hall features ornate columns floor to ceiling also (almost) intact.

And seats that remind me of the vintage French art décor ones used in some cinemas in the past. Something intriguing about that was not having a linear pattern in the numeration of those seats.

A single row can follow a complex numeration of seats like 67, 45, 89, 19. Funny though. Is there any explanation for it?

Pretty ironic to say the same venue would become a very famous nightclub in 1991. Since its closure in 2002, the building has remained empty until open as Q Club again in 2007.

The state of the building remains the same looking a bit scruffy and battered.

Inside the building, it’s possible to imagine how the praise days used to work and the sassy nights used to end up. It’s magnificent. The narrow corridors seem like a labyrinth that leads you to more empty rooms or spaces filled with some old furniture.

I love the big stained glass windows. Some of them need some TLC.  But they also fit part of the scenery perfectly. The altar is where you can get the best view of the whole arena. And to complete it there is what looks like an organ still left next to the choir area.

The architecture that survived the time from a past worship hall features ornate columns floor to ceiling also (almost) intact.

And seats that remind me of the vintage French art décor ones used in some cinemas in the past. Something intriguing about that was not having a linear pattern in the numeration of those seats.

A single row can follow a complex numeration of seats like 67, 45, 89, 19. Funny though. Is there any explanation for it?

The floor is a bit sticky and it’s proof that the venue is still going strong. It’s a historical building that is part of the heritage of Birmingham. I just hope it keeps preserved for a long time.

Source | Birmingham History

Simone Ribeiro

Hi! I'm Simone, a citizen of Britain, where I live for over a decade, and of Brazil, where I was born. Midlands Traveller is where I combine my passion for travelling, business and an Eco-friendly lifestyle.