Our History

In the 18th Century, Ettingshall was one of nine villages in the Ancient Manor of Sedgley.  Ettingshall Lane, known as “Hell Lane” linked Upper and Lower Ettingshall.

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The area was the haunt of bull-baiting, cockfighting, pugilists, (boxers) highwaymen and gamblers.  Robberies, often with cruel violence, were frequent.  Riots were common.  Men were usually miners or nailers and in consequence, spent many hours in ale houses.  Upper Ettingshall became known as ‘SODOM’ after the wicked city of Sodom in the Book of Genesis (Chapters 18 and 19). 

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At the beginning of the 19th Century, a preacher named Samuel Williams, informed the Methodist Conference of the need for a Methodist Chapel and received the historic reply “If a Chapel were needed anywhere it must be in Hell Lane on the way to Sodom!”

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Primitive Methodist Missioners visited ‘Sodom’ and made an impression upon some of the inhabitants.  One such person, THOMAS NICHOLS, a miner born in 1790, went to a ‘Love Feast’ in Sedgley and got converted.  Thomas married Ann Hughes and had a large family.  They lived in Chapel Street (re-named Paul Street) and opened their Cottage for worship, forming a Society in 1823.  There were 12 trustees, only three could write their name.

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A flourishing congregation established and in 1829, a piece of land was purchased from Mr. Pearson of Wolverhampton at the junction of Chapel Street and Upper Ettingshall Road to build a single storey Church, called Upper Ettingshall Primitive Methodist Chapel.

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As the congregation increased, the small Church was demolished and a new Church, with a gallery, was built in 1850.  Three years later, more land was purchased and an extension built to provide a Sunday School.

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Thomas Nichols, founder of the Church died on 29th April, 1853.  Many of his descendants still attend the Church today.

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Upper Ettingshall Chapel is still affectionately known as ‘Sodom Chapel’ by many in the local neighbourhood.

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Thanks to Mrs. Jennifer Hill - church steward and local historian - for this history of the church. Thankfully the local reputation has improved over the years!

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Click here to read an extract from the Black Country Bugle describing the church's 150th anniversary in 2000.