Station Road, Knowle, Solihull, West Midlands B93 0HN

Knowle Congregational

Church 2

Following: Extracted from “The Collegiate Church of Saints John Baptist, Laurence and Anne of Knowle, Warwickshire”        by Anthony A. Upton.       1966.

During the eleven years when Row was minister the chapel prospered. Week-night “cottage –meetings” were held at Copt Heath; one member acted as tract distributor; evangelistic meetings were held.

In 1880 Row resigned the pastorate in order to visit New Zealand, but upon changing his wind he re-offered his services to Knowle.  Members of the congregation were invited to vote on this issue, and of the nineteen who voted, six did not wish Row to return.  But a two-thirds majority ensured Row’s re-admission to the pastorate.

After Row finally left in 1887 the chapel was served by visiting preachers whose engagements were arranged by the senior deacon, a Mr. Wilkins.  The next senior deacon was Mr. G.E. Woodfield, a blacksmith, who was one of the prime movers in starting a building fund for a new chapel in 1914.

In 1919 it was suggested that Knowle might form a joint pastorate with Hampton and accordingly, in 1921, the Rev. E.A. Pickering became minister of the two chapels. He stayed until 1926, following which Knowle again relied upon visiting preachers.

By 1932 the fund opened in 1914 had reached £1400. To this sum the Congregational Church Extension Committee gave a grant of £1,760. Work on the new chapel began, the foundation stone being laid. on 7 May 1932, and the building was opened for public worship in November.

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