Enfield Circuit The London District
History of Oakwood Methodist Church
Other churches in this Circuit:	With the extension of the Piccadilly Tube in the years before the Second World War, new housing estates sprang up at Enfield West and Cockfosters. Finsbury Park Circuit quickly realised its responsibility for nurturing Methodism in this neighbourhood and, in 1938, the present site in Westpole Avenue was acquired. From a well-attended meeting of local Methodists at The Bourne emerged the nucleus of the new Methodist Society, and weekly services were held at the house of Mrs Lambert in Westpole Avenue. Soon the trustees had to decide between using a wooden hut on the site and converting a shop in Station Parade into a temporary church. They wisely chose the latter, and "The Church in the Shop" would be the Oakwood Methodist Society's home for 11 wonderful years. With the outbreak of war, the congregation began to disperse, and the Oakwood Methodist Society passed into a period of crisis for the few who remained. During the closing months of the war, the Revd Fred Pratt Green was appointed to Oakwood, and the church received a new stimulus.		In 1949 building work began on a permanent sanctuary at Westpole Avenue, and this was opened in 1950 (the building shown on the right in the photo). It served the congregation for nine years, until the present church sanctuary, which opened in 1959, was built alongside (the building on the left in the photo). The 1950 building was then converted for use as the main hall of the church. In 1999 Oakwood celebrated its 60th anniversary and continues to be very much alive in spite of dwindling numbers. We have a regular Prayer Meeting, Fellowship Bible Study, House Group, a thriving Parent and Toddler Group, two Men's Compass Clubs, Women's Wednesday Club and Social Table Tennis Clubs. We sponsor a Girl's Brigade, are supporting our third child through Bible Lands, and give considerable sums to charities. We have a small but dedicated Sunday School, and seek to maintain a true family fellowship, as we witness to our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, and to the Glory of God in Oakwood and Cockfosters.
Bush Hill Park
Edmonton
Goffs Oak
Grange Park
Oakwood
Ordnance Road
Ponders End
Southgate
St John's Enfield
Trinity Enfield
Winchmore Hill
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