Skip to main content
arrowbookcheckclosecommentfacebookfavourite-origfavouritegooglehomeibalogopdfsearchsharespotlighttwitterwelsh-government
People's Collection Wales Logo A vector graphics of the official People's Collection Wales Logo
  • Cymraeg
  • Login
  • Register
  • About UsAbout PCW
  • Uploadedit & create
  • The Collectionbrowse & filter
  • Mapsnew & historic
  • HelpTips on using the website
  • Learnteaching resources
Home / A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Community House
A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Community House's picture
A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Community House

Date joined: 19/01/17

About

Community House is an extraordinary building, with little architectural merit but a history that is unique. When the existing Church reached the end of its useful life in the 1960s, the congregation, under the charismatic leadership of the Reverend Cyril Summers decided to create a new building that would be evidence of ‘Faith in Action’, rather than simply replace it with another church.

‘Community House’ was the name in a reference to the Iona Community much admired by Cyril. While the premises would be used for Christian worship, it would also be home to all members of the local community. It was to become a place which existed to demonstrate the ‘ fellowship of Christ’: to be a community centre for all local users, a social and educational hub, an informal meeting place and the location of much work to build community cohesion.

Money was needed even to demolish the building, so a World Council of Churches International Work Camp was set up and young people from 15 countries came and lived alongside members of the congregation for a month. They helped to demolish the old building and recycled some of the bricks to build an extension of the original church hall. After more than 5 years spent in seeking funding, debating liability with the Presbyterian Church and undergoing exile as a congregation; the vision for what should replace the Church was complete. House meetings held throughout the period produced a vision of what the new Church would be.

All Communities need a centre, a place of meeting. And supposing it were a centre of compassion, A centre of understanding, A place of reconciliation, A refuge of comfort, a centre of happiness. A place where people were always treated as people. Supposing in fact, it were a centre of Christian life and witness? – Cyril Summers

The bulk of the funding came from the Department for Education and Science, to create a purpose built youth centre with the provision that it was to be open 5 nights a week. It became an extraordinary place. For the full story you need to read Cyril’s book, ‘A People’s Pilgrimage’ which details the struggle, the problems and successes with complete honesty.

Management of the building has passed to a Board of Trustees to be run as a registered charity, as the denomination is unable to maintain it but the building. Community House continues to build strong and caring community through the wide variety of user groups.

Cyril’s concern for peace making grows through the Gold Level Accreditation of the Peace Mala, annual Peace Days and various inter-faith activities.

… Show moreShow less

Website: https://www.etonrdch.org

    • Items (211)
    • Collections (13)
    • Stories (7)
  • Media Type

    • Picture (167)
    • Document (10)
    • Audio (34)
  • Arts and Culture

    • Carnivals (17)
    • Choirs (15)
    • Crafts (14)
    • Legends, tales & myths (4)
    • Music (22)
    • Theatre and performing arts (10)
    • OTHER: Arts + Culture (12)
  • Community and social

    • Agricultural societies (3)
    • Clothing and accessories (3)
    • Criminal System (2)
    • Events (73)
    • Fairs (3)
    • Food & Drink (12)
    • Health (32)
    • Houses and Homes (10)
    • Markets (4)
    • People and Family (138)
    • Schools / Education (33)
    • Shops (2)
    • Societies and clubs (80)
    • OTHER: Community and Social (50)
  • Industry and Commerce

    • Communication and media (2)
    • Food Industry (1)
    • Transport (2)
    • OTHER: Industry (1)
  • Physical Environment

    • Churches, Chapels & other places of worship (75)
    • Cities, towns & villages (4)
    • Parks and gardens (1)
    • Pubs and Clubs (2)
    • OTHER: Physical Environment (2)
  • Religion and Belief

    • Christianity (79)
    • Customs and practices (34)
    • Nonconformist denominations (19)
    • Religious buildings (40)
    • Religious communities (111)
    • Societies and sects (4)
    • World Faiths (53)
    • OTHER: Religion and Beliefs (12)
  • Sport and Leisure

    • Clubs and societies (28)
    • Football (1)
    • Holidays and resorts (3)
    • Places of entertainment (21)
    • Processions and public events (8)
    • Social groups (39)
    • Sports and games (2)
  • War, protest and politics

    • Civil and political rights (4)
    • First World War (1914-18) (1)
    • Political parties (1)
    • Societies and pressure groups (2)
    • Soldiers (3)
    • Warfare (3)
    • OTHER: War, Protest and Politics (4)
  • 21st century

    • 2000s (38)
    • 2010s (38)
  • 20th century

    • 1900s (6)
    • 1910s (1)
    • 1920s (3)
    • 1940s (1)
    • 1950s (4)
    • 1960s (49)
    • 1970s (18)
    • 1980s (33)
    • 1990s (63)

231 items found

  • (-) Remove A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Community House
Brian Selby, Youth worker and Church Elder...

Brian Selby, Youth worker and Church Elder...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 176
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Finance statement Corporation Road Church 1963

Finance statement Corporation Road Church 1963

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 160
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Page from the finance book of Corporation Road...

Page from the finance book of Corporation Road...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 173
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Corporation Road Forward Movement Church...

Corporation Road Forward Movement Church...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 141
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Corporation Road Forward Movement Church,...

Corporation Road Forward Movement Church,...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 143
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Pages from Team Ministry book

Pages from Team Ministry book

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 152
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Pages from the Team Ministry Book at Community...

Pages from the Team Ministry Book at Community...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 156
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

A page from the minutes book belonging to Team...

A page from the minutes book belonging to Team...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 152
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Architect's plan for the rebuild of...

Architect's plan for the rebuild of...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 138
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Architect's plan for the rebuild of...

Architect's plan for the rebuild of...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 140
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Ground floor plan for the rebuild of...

Ground floor plan for the rebuild of...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 152
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Architect's plan for the colour scheme...

Architect's plan for the colour scheme...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 164
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Architect's plan for a circular design for...

Architect's plan for a circular design for...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 150
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Architect's drawing for side elevation of...

Architect's drawing for side elevation of...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 145
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Rebuilding the 'Church on the Corner'...

Rebuilding the 'Church on the Corner'...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 167
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

A People's Pilgrimage, pages 40-41

A People's Pilgrimage, pages 40-41

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 126
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Rev. Cyril Summers vision for the new building...

Rev. Cyril Summers vision for the new building...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 142
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

A People's Pilgrimage , p39 description of...

A People's Pilgrimage , p39 description of...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 145
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Team Ministry book, Rev. Cyril Summers'...

Team Ministry book, Rev. Cyril Summers'...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 167
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Architect's plan for the interior of...

Architect's plan for the interior of...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 121
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

The Vision for Corporation Road Presbyterian...

The Vision for Corporation Road Presbyterian...

  • Collection
  • [1 items]
  • 139
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

A Church without a Church

A Church without a Church

  • Collection
  • [9 items]
  • 375
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

The 'House Group' period, Community...

The 'House Group' period, Community...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 171
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

The new building - Community House, Eton Road

The new building - Community House, Eton Road

  • Collection
  • [1 items]
  • 152
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Brian Selby reads Rev. Cyril Summers'...

Brian Selby reads Rev. Cyril Summers'...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 185
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Faith, Peace and Politics - Community House

Faith, Peace and Politics - Community House

  • Collection
  • [1 items]
  • 199
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

How the Peace Garden at Community House,...

How the Peace Garden at Community House,...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 197
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

How the group 'Senior Friends'...

How the group 'Senior Friends'...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 182
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

Brian Selby and how the new building at...

Brian Selby and how the new building at...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 212
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

House groups, their origins and the demolition...

House groups, their origins and the demolition...

  • Use stars to collect & save items A vector image of star to represent action to save this item
  • 184
  • login to save
  • A Thousand Voices - The History and story of Com...

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • …
  • next ›
  • last »
Twitter Logo The Twitter Logo in vector format
This photograph was taken of the Welsh Rugby Union team before their game against England in 1973.… https://t.co/R9GIn2wFF7 — 22 hours 2 min ago
more

Keep in touch

  • Twitter Logo The Twitter Logo in vector format
  • Facebook Logo The Facebook Logo in vector format

More about us, our work with community groups, services and training

  • Access
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Site Map
  • Terms
Noddir gan Lywodraeth Cymru | Sponsored by Welsh Government The Welsh Government Logo in vector format

01970 632 500 Email