A brief history of Manor Mission
At the beginning of the 1800s Laindon consisted of a few widely scattered farms and cottages for the farm workers but by the end of the century agriculture had severely declined and farmers were having to sell off their land to survive.
In 1889 with the completion of a railway line direct from London to Southend via Laindon and Pitsea estate agents began selling off plots of land for people to build houses on in the Laindon area. The initial cost was half a crown (12p) with 10 shillings (50p) a month for land purchase. By 1892 there were special concessions for early train commuters known as "workman's tickets". The majority of houses were timber bungalows but some used brick and mortar, sheet asbestos, corrugated iron or old railway carriages.
In 1902 Christian "non-conformists" who wished to meet in an un-denominational fellowship began holding services and a Sunday school at a rented hall known as Manor Hall owned by the Smallholders Association. They had close links with a similar fellowship in Langdon Hills known as the Nightingale Mission and for a brief period in 1918 -1919 met together away from Manor Hall. In 1924 a committee was formed and an independent but un-denominational church was established in Manor Hall. They decided they needed their own premises and in 1925 were offered a plot of land for £30 in Manor Road. The quote for the cost of the building was £614. A mortgage of just over £8/month was arranged but the members had raised £450 when the average wage was only £3/week.
On April 3rd 1926 the newly built "Manor Mission" church was opened. In 1930 the Primary Hall was built at the cost of £107.
The Manor Mission church deed states that"the said land and premises to be used and occupied and enjoyed as a place for the public worship of God and for preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and for the instruction of children and adults and for the promotion of such other religious or philanthropic purposes as the Trustees shall from time to time direct, And it is hereby declared that all religious teachings given at the Mission premises shall be un-denominational in character in perpetuity".
To all who mourn and need comfort, to all who are tired and need rest, to all who are friendless and need friendship, to all who are lonely and want companionship, to all who are homeless and want sheltering love, to all who pray, and to all who do not, to all who sin, and need a saviour, to all who seek to serve their fellow men, and to whosoever will come - This Mission opens wide its doors, and in the name of Jesus the Lord, says WELCOME
Taken from 25th Anniversary booklet..