The Woodside Baptist Church this year celebrates its centenary and is inviting members of the public to mark the event by visiting a fascinating exhibition on its life and history.

The event takes place on Sunday, September 27, between 3pm and 5pm.

The pastor, Rob Trickey, says celebrations will continue throughout the next 12 months.

"We want to pay tribute to everyone who has been involved in the life of the church over the years and welcome back past members," he said.

Founded in 1898 as the Baptist Pioneer Mission, the church at Spring Lane was an iron building erected at a cost of £950.

In 1905 a "modern" building was built complete with gas lighting and incandescent burners which, history relates, was one of the first in Croydon.

The church has witnessed history in the making, such as the time in 1915 while holding their yearly meeting, a German Zeppelin was sighted in the neighbourhood.

Members promptly adjourned the meeting and crowded outside to watch the raider being fired upon in an attempt to shoot it down.

Since those days the church has stood the test of time and survived to witness the rapid expansion of the area around Woodside, Addiscombe and Shirley.

During World War II, Croydon and Kenley were prime targets for enemy aircraft, but it was often the nearby suburbs that bore the brunt of stray bombs and the later V1 doodlebug attacks that fell short of their targets to destroy whole streets.

Despite some near misses when parts of Shirley were flattened, the Baptist Church remained standing so that more than 50 years later it is able to celebrate its 100th birthday.

Organisers of the centenary celebrations say the exhibition will be a nostalgic treat for visitors.

Anyone wanting further information can contact Cathy Cayley on 0181 654 8800.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.