Mission Room (St Andrew)

Mission Room (St Andrew)

Huish / Preston Grove

 

The Mission Room was erected in the corner of a field in 1906. This was at the junction of Huish (which ended here) and the recently-built (1890s) Grove Avenue. Preston Grove would not be constructed until the 1930s. The new Mission Room was actually erected outside Yeovil's western town boundary (see map below).

The white-painted, corrugated iron, second-hand building was the gift of an anonymous benefactor - although the cost of transporting the building from its original site in Wiltshire cost around £100 (about £10,000 at today's value).

On 4 February 1907, the Mission Room was formally dedicated to St Andrew by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Reverend George Wyndhm Kennion (1845-1922).

In 1934 the 'tin church', as it was affectionately known, was replaced by the present stone-built St Andrew's church. Following this, the former Mission Room assumed a succession of alternative uses, including use as a parish hall, Sunday school, primary school, club room for scouts, guides, and so on. 

The building was finally demolished in 1989, and the present brick-built parish hall was built on the site.

 

Map

 

An extract of the 1901 Ordnance Survey showing the location of the new Mission Hall as a red dot. To the east runs Huish, which terminates at this point. To the north is the 1890s-built Grove Avenue. To the west is a field track that wouldn't be replaced by Preston Grove until the 1920s. It will be seen from this map that the new Mission Hall was actually erected outside Yeovil's town boundary, which at this time followed the stream between Grove Avenue and Huish Gardens.

 

gallery

 


Courtesy of South Somerset Heritage Collection

  St Andrew's Mission Hall, Preston Grove, photographed in the 1950s.

 


Courtesy of South Somerset Heritage Collection

Preston Grove photographed in 1955, with St Andrew's Mission Hall at the right.

 


From the Cave Collection (colourised), Courtesy of South Somerset Heritage Collection

Huish at the junction with Grove Avenue, photographed in the mid-1960's. This was as far as Huish ever went and from this point onwards was fields until Preston Grove, at left, was built in the 1920's - at which time, this was the very edge of Yeovil. Many older Yeovilians remember the tin hut of St Andrew's church on the corner - the roof of St Andrew's church itself is seen behind.

 


Courtesy of Jack Sweet. This photograph features in my book "Now That's What I Call Yeovil"

The famous 'tin hut' photographed during the 1980s.

 


This photograph features in my book "Lost Yeovil"

The white tin hut that was St Andrew's Hall on the corner of Preston Grove and Grove Avenue, now with a brick replacement. At right is Huish. This photograph, and the next, are screen captures from the BBC film "Frankie & Johnnie" - a 100 minute drama released as an episode of Screen Two (1985–2002) and screened on 2 February 1986. It was shot almost entirely on location in Yeovil.

 

A scene shot inside St Andrew's Hall. Hywel Bennett is standing at the back.

 

The old Mission Hall is just seen at centre, behind the tree, in the wider setting of Preston Grove and Huish. Photographed in 1987.

 

The present brick-built St Andrew's parish hall was constructed in 1989. The top of St Andrew's church roof and bell cote are just glimpsed above the hall's roof.

 

St Andrew's church and parish hall, photographed in 2013.