In 1928 local Christians planted an independent evangelical church on the edge of the large and rapidly developing London County Council estate in Downham.
Brook Lane Hall quickly became known as the ‘Hall of the warm welcome’. Many who had moved out from Bermondsey attended and 400 came weekly to Sunday School by the end of the first year. In the early 1930s we built a side hall to cope with rapid growth.
In 1937 an outreach from the Bermondsey Medical Mission began to treat patients who had moved to Downham. Brook Lane Medical Mission thus evolved alongside the church, some years before the introduction of the National Health Service, and this strong link with medical work continues, now through the Links Practice. It is a real asset in spreading the good news of Christ in our community.
The Hall survived the Blitz, but took a few knocks. Members carried out most repairs, but records show that the War Damage Commission settled a claim for over £250, then a lot of money.
Renamed Brook Lane Chapel in 1958 we are now known as Brook Lane Community Church. We have rebuilt again and again over the years to meet contemporary needs – the most recent major scheme was completed in 2000.
We were one of the first churches to join the Bromley Evangelical Fellowship for united Christian prayer, fellowship and outreach in Bromley.
We celebrated our 80th Anniversary in 2008 and as we look forward we also continue to look back in gratitude to God for honouring the faith of those early Christian pioneers.
