The attached article gives a thumbnail sketch of Free Methodism in Birmingham. The Nechells area was evangelised over a number of years, following the well found practice of starting with a Sunday School, and building a chapel when the cause was established. With 500 in the Sunday School in 1882, the Rocky Lane congregation felt that the time had come, and built the building illustrated to house 650.
I have been unable to establish the architect of this building, and more information on its life would be appreciated. The records deposited suggest that it closed in 1950.
Source
United Methodist Free Churches Magazine Vol. 26,1883 pp129-130
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I am delighted that we have been able to add a photograph of a trowel used by Mrs R. Needham to lay a memorial stone when the chapel was built on 17 September 1883. The trowel had been acquired by Graham Dudley.
The second Rocky Lane chapel, seating 260, was designed by J. Wilkinson in the Gothic style, and seating 530. The seating accommodation was later expanded to 800. In 1941 the building was severely damaged by bombing, but by the end of 1942 it had been partly restored and was again in use.The chapel ceased to be registered for public worship in 1946.
‘Religious History: Places of worship’, in A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 7, the City of Birmingham, ed. W B Stephens (London, 1964), British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/warks/vol7/pp434-482 [accessed 13 November 2025].
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