Utilitarian Difficulties... The utilitarian construction of the original Hall Church caused many problems. Soon after completion there was trouble with the heating; to save money, individually flued paraffin heaters had been mounted on the walls, but they were troublesome unreliable and smelly. Again for economy, the floor had been laid in bare concrete which produced incessant dust, and needed endless sweeping. Then there were problems with the roof.... But it was a Church; and if the joy of its arrival was somewhat dimmed by the abrupt consequent need to raise even more funds to replace the heating, the floor and the leaky roof... nonetheless it served the purpose, and came to be regarded with great affection; it was spotlessly kept and lovingly decorated. Ironically, the Hall Church was soon regarded as 'only a step on the way' to a new and 'proper' church, in an age that could still think of large buildings set apart entirely and only for worship. But it was in fact probably better loved and used, and for its day more practical for the parish, than anything that has followed it. Return to Main Text