Nailed To The Cross: How Primitive Methodism Liberated The White Slaves of Bromsgrove
A chance discovery of a glass jar buried deep under the pulpit started the investigation. It contained architects’ original drawings, a leader’s personal Bible, and mortgage deeds going back to 1833. It revealed the amazing story of men of vision who served a community. Nailed To The Cross is that story.
The White Slaves of England
Toil, toil and work by the furnace heat,
While our voices chime with the hammer’s beat,
And our brows are crown’d with the burning sweat;
The anvil rings with each crushing blow,
And the iron is bright from fiery glow;
One, two; one, two; that, boys, will do,
Now bend it, now heat it, now shout ‘all hail!
For a thorough good work – a Bromsgrove Nail.’
What impact could the growth of a small local church in the heart of the nail making district of Sidemoor, Bromsgrove hope to have?
The Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Chapel was called to serve the nailmakers, "The White Slaves of England." It became the focal point of the small community. The church provided education, social support and above all hope for those some would call, ‘poor, ignorant and unsophisticated.’
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”
Charles Wesley
I spent many formative years in Sunday School at the Ebenezer Church, and it holds a special place in my heart. I was a rebel. They threw me out on many occasions!
I received a book titled "The Boy Who Came Back" in 1969 as a Sunday School prize for good attendance. How, I’m not sure. I would never have imagined this prodigal son would one day return to the church and serve as its minister for a decade. I found the glass jar full of documents and wrote this book a dissertation for my First Class Honours degree from Birmingham University.
Praise for Nailed To The Cross
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Brilliant! Very well written
Rev S. G. Hatcher - verified Amazon purchase
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I really enjoyed the book, feeling the pain and anguish of the nail makers in trying to bring up their families in the most horrendous conditions. Peter Billingham paints a graphic picture of Bromsgrove in the 1800s.
Terry - verified Amazon purchase
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Gift for mum who lives in Bromsgrove, well written factual book. Thank you.
DebbieJ - verified Amazon purchase
