The Mission
The first Methodist Chapel in Rowlands Gill had been built in 1883 by the village's earliest mining community along at Cowen and Liley Terrace, known locally as 'The Rows', "Hard-working Primitive Methodist families collected money to build themselves a Chapel, and this was built with the whitish bricks to match the houses - bought from Cowen's brick yards at Blaydon, and erected on land given by Joseph Cowen" (Source: Brian Pears).
Whilst residents of the Bottoms would attend the chapel at The Rows, many,reportedly mostly women and children, also frequented the the Gospel Hall - known locally as 'The Mission' - situated somewhat nearer, just over the railway bridge on today's Station Road..
The Gospel Hall opened in November 1937, the premises having been built around 1928 and previously used as an auction room by Oswell Carter. It existed into the sixties when it was then taken over by the Elim Pentecostal Church which closed in the 1970s. (Source: Brian Pears - genuki.org.uk)
Margery Carter who grew up at No. 8 Derwent View was baptised at the Mission and remembers it with great fondness: " It was lovely to go to the Mission and repeat verse. Mrs Stobbs played the organ and there was a stage at the front with a big bath where the baptisms took place".
Many former residents of the Bottoms recall that Mr. and Mrs. Routledge who ran 'The Shop' at one point being heavily involved with the Mission, Mr. Routledge being the lay preacher there.
Closely associated with the Mission in the late fourties and fifties was a certain 'Mrs Mason'*. Marjorie and Heather Mitton remember fun times at Mrs Mason's home in Derwent View where they would go to sing and bash out tunes on her organ, even though they didn't quite know how to play.
The site of the Gospel Hall today belongs to 'Abel Roofing'. When Richard Johnson purchased the premises in 1985 he recalls how it seemed like stepping back in time; "the raised stage at the back was still there complete with crockery - cups and saucers - all set out and piles of hymn books".
*When researching the Gill Bottoms and collecting memories from former residents it transpired that Mrs Mason was my great grand-mother. I only recall meeting my great gran on one occassion in the late eighties. I was struck by the fact that she actually had an organ - what's more a very large, ornate one - in her small bungalow. She was still playing it and singing hymns even then! - Carol (Thompson) Masip