On September 10th 1925, the Park Avenue Church and schools were opened. Councillor J. W. Arnold unlocked the doors and invited the crowd that had gathered to enter the church, saying that he hoped the new church would be what Kettering Road had proved to be – shelter from storm, light in darkness, strength in weakness, comfort in sorrow.
The guest preacher was the Rev Dr F W Norwood of the City Temple, London, who preached a sermon of great power on the words of Gamaliel ‘if this work be of God, ye cannot overthrow it’ (Acts 5: 39). After the service Mr C J Pearce declared the school open.
So began ‘The Park Avenue Story’ and now over 90 years later, the building has seen many comings and goings and changes. Following Methodist Union in 1932 the original building has had extensions added, principally:
- The Minor Hall opened on March 7th 1933
- The ‘Quiet Room’ – New Hall – in 1962
- The Jubilee Room (and replacement of the old kitchen) in 1975
- The new entrance and redevelopment scheme in 1998.
Over 90 years on Charles Wesley seems to have word for it all:
‘And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face? Glory and praise to Jesus give for His redeeming grace.’
Current Ministry Team:
| Rev Romeo Pedro (Circuit Superintendent) | 2014-Present |
| Rev Phil Snelson |
2008-Present |
| Deacon Richard Beckett | 2011-Present |
| Rev Alan Sharp | 2018-Present |
| Rev Francis M’Itiiri | 2018-Present |
Previous Ministry Team members:
| Rev Glayne Worgan | 2006-2011 |
| Deacon Maureen Spinks | 2006-2011 |
| Rev Phil Taylor | 2009-2012 |
| Rev Martin Swan | 2005-2014 |
| Rev Nutan Suray | 2012-2014 |
| Rev Tina Swire | 2011-2018 |
| Rev John Marriott | 2014-2018 |
Previous Ministers
| Rev JJ Reeves (Circuit Superintendent minister) |
Sept 13th 1925 – July 1926 |
| Rev Leonard Tudor | 1926-1935 |
| Rev Edward McLellan | 1935-1940 |
| Rev Lawrence H. Wood | 1940-1944 |
| Rev Norman Povey | 1944-1946 |
| Rev John H. Watkins | 1946-1952 |
| Rev Henry T. Wigley | 1952-1960 |
| Rev Dr W. Lawson Jones | 1960-1967 |
| Rev Gordon W. Argyle | 1967-1971 |
| Rev Reg Bedford | 1971-1977 |
| Rev John Searle | 1977-1983 |
| Rev Brian Tebbutt |
1983-1990 |
| Rev Michael Jackson | 1990-1998 |
| Rev John Johnson | 1998-2002 |
| Rev Dave Tomlin | 2002-2007 |
| Rev Andy Brooks | 2007-2009 |
| Team Ministry | 2009-present |