Durban - The original Methodist community in Westville was a small one, worshipping in private houses or occasionally at St Elizabeth’s Anglican Church or the Town Hall. In 1954, the foundation stone was laid for a church of their own in Buckingham Terrace. The photo on shows this church in 1958.
In 1975, a developer purchased a swathe of land bounded by Buckingham Terrace, Menston and Kensington Roads to build the Westville Mall (Checkers Centre) and the church was demolished. The second photo shows the Mall’s parking area where the church once stood.
For a while, the Methodists were homeless again until their new building at 38 Jan Hofmeyr Road was completed in November 1977. It cost more than R300 000. The recent photo shows the building today.
On November 19, an anniversary service celebrated 40 years in the new building. The final photo shows congregants who worshipped at the original church and were present at the first service in the new building on November 20, 1977.