St.Chads Mission Church, Blists Hill. by artaddict2
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Corrugated iron buildings were popular in the late nineteenth century. They were available by mail order from various outlets including Harrods can you beleive!
Such churches were advertised in the 1889 Church of England Yearbook as "tasteful in design, economical, durable... can be taken down and re-erected.
This Mission Church was built in 1888 to serve Donnington Mining Community 6 miles from here, and was moved to this museum in 1977. Such churches served the working class communities of England where attendances had fallen. One theory behind the corrugated iron was that it encouraged people who had no "Sunday Best" (their best clothes for the day of rest) to attend.
I recall as a child my mother telling me of her father always dressed impecabbly on a Sunday in suit and brilliant white starched collar. He was a Yorkshire miner, a very proud man with a large family and little money.
Thanks for viewing.

Comments (22)
Thank you for sharing this picture of this mission church.
I have seen many types of churches but I believe this is the corrugated.excellent pov and clarity
Fantastic shot..bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx
The more I know the less I understand. It´s fascinating that one always can learn new things. To me churches has always been big and almost white. Most of our churches in sweden are grand buildings that has their heritage from the middle-ages. I always thought that I couldn´t be how god (if he exist) intended thing to be. The church collects money for help the poor, but churches are allmost allways the most expensiv building. well anyhow, I like your image, it has a very industrial rural feeling to it.
Great shot, with great licht there!
Very very beautiful
A fascinating bit of history! I never would have thought of pre-fab churches. It makes sense, though. Just after the turn of the last century, Sears-Roebuck (a department store chain in the States) sold arts-and-crafts-style houses through their catalog. They were pre-fab, as well. "Some assembly required!" I have a friend who lives in a Sears house. It's a beautiful place! I would love to see one of these corrugated iron buildings. Were you able to take any interior shots?
Very good work.
WOW!!! THis is a church?! Really interesting! Love the colours!!! Really nice shot!!!
I remember when women would never think of wearing pants to church even a well made pants suit. No sleeveless shirts, man or woman, no tennis shoes, ties and white shirts for men were a must and women should wear hats... we all got gussied up in our Sunday clothes and walked to church like something out of a Norman Rockwell sketch. I love this little church. It really has a community feel to it.
Very nice indeed my friend ! Thanks for the history lesson my friend ! You just can't beat experience and knowledge ! I think that we'll get along just find you and me ! Thanks for sharing it with us ! Best regards...
What a great report (photo and story)! Just look at the delightful curvature of the roof, made possible by the steel construction.
Beautiful work sure would love to see it walk around and enjoy the peace sweet day to you warm hug, Linda
how interesting this is !!! loved your write up about it wow mail order even it sure has stood thru time well fantastic capture of it!!
Very interesting church!
I'm glad you got a shot of this Alan, I didn't get one last year when I went, as far as I can remember the inside was as austere as the outside, maybe even more. I remember that the slabs you can see are rescued grave stones, but there are no bodies burried here. I like how you have captured this with the sun shining through the canopy of trees, I thought it was a bit of a strange place to build a church, I would have sited it nearer to the green myself. Great picture and wonderful narrative, you know how much I like that. Bravo!!!!!
Wonderful capture! Very beautiful.
Beautiful shot. Thanks for telling us about this place.
another excellent capture and info alan mick
wonderful capture... the beauty of this shot is grand... excellent work...
Wonderful capture! I like the light and shadows! Awesome!! :^)
great capture...