Break Away - 1908 to 1923

It was in June 1908 that Henry Marsh bought a 180-page minute book with stiff covers and marbled end papers. He dipped his nib into the inkwell and inscribed on the first page, "Minute book of the Tabernacle Baptist Church". His first entry read thus:
"This church was formed in June 1908 by former members of the Waterloo Road Baptist Church who did not agree with the principles and policy of the aforementioned church, therefore, finding it impossible to work in harmony together, they separated and founded the Tabernacle Baptist Church, and Molineux Hall, Molineux Street Wolverhampton was taken in which to hold public services".

(Molineux St. lies just behind the Wolves' football ground, only a matter of yards from Waterloo Road.)

We can imagine the months, perhaps years, of pain and heart-searching, which lay behind this breakaway and the trepidation with which some 34 members of the Waterloo Road church launched forth on this separate existence. It is ironic that the strong mother-church later declined and finally closed, its buildings being demolished in July 1970, while the breakaway flourished and indeed planted out three new causes over the years. Some of the proceeds of the sale of the Waterloo Road site came back to Tabernacle in 1997 in the form of substantial gifts and loans to help in the adaptation and refurbishment of its sanctuary.

During the first year of its life the new church was admitted to membership of the West Midland Baptist Association and later joined the Baptist Union. Its first four deacons were elected and these included Henry Marsh, who was to serve as Church Secretary till 1941, nearly 33 years later - a truly tremendous piece of Christian commitment. A Sunday School and Band of Hope are mentioned in these early minutes, and on the first anniversary, a membership of 64 was reported.

Molineux Hall was proving inadequate for the growing church, and the deacons were looking at a site in Dunstall Road, Whitmore Reans. At the church meeting held on 18 August 1909, the momentous decision was taken by 31 vote to 3 to buy the site for the sum of £284.12s (equivalent to £30,000 in 1998 terms). A mortgage of £180 was raised to help meet the costs.

Two further vital decisions were taken at another church meeting on November 11 1911, as the church entered the fourth year of its existence. Henry Marsh's record reads thus:
" The deacons reported that they thought the time had now come when we should endeavour to secure a settled pastor, and they arranged with Rev. W J Benton of Erdington to supply three Sundays in succession with a view. They had also arranged to have a social tea (which they would provide free at their own expense) to meet Mr and Mrs Benton on Wednesday November 22nd. On the proposition of Mr Thos Fern, seconded by Mr Instone, and unanimously carried it was agreed that the arrangement of the deacons be approved of.

The Secretary reported that the deacons had made an inspection of the old Unitarian Church in Bath Road, and on the report of brethren Hulse and Edwards who had looked over the building, it was considered to be worth about £30 and an offer was made to the Victoria Nursing Institute (the owners of the building) of that sum."

The deacons moved swiftly. The building was bought and with the help of a bank loan of £100 it was removed and, for a further £108.8s.6d., was erected at Dunstall Road. This first building on the site was opened on 21 March 1912, only 4 months after the original church meeting decision.

The new pastor, Mr Benton (whose salary was £50 p.a. plus free bus pass to Birmingham) did not stay long. He resigned on grounds of business commitments just after the outbreak of the First World War after a ministry of less than three years. A second venture in calling in a pastor nearly ten years later was of even shorter duration. Rev. Dr. Dowen served only 11 months (Dec. 1921 - Nov. 1922) before retiring on health grounds.