History of Valley Methodist Church
(By Mike Durrant with acknowledgement of the
research done by Walley Smith)
In 1904, the Gezina Methodist Church was established. At first, the congregation met in a marquee and then in a wood and iron building. In December 1907, General J.C. Smuts, the Colonial Secretary at that time, laid the foundation stone of a new church, on the corner of Frederika Street and 11th Avenue.
Unfortunately, the material binding the bricks of this building had a very high lime content and in the late 1960's this had started to crumble and the church had to be demolished. The church, however, retained ownership of the site, which they rented to Caltex as from 1978. This company built a petrol station there and the money raised by the rental has helped the present Valley Methodist Church extend its staff which has resulted in significant growth in the congregation.
In 1914, the Villeria Methodist Church began. It was located on the corner of Ben Swart Street and 29th Avenue, where the present day Valley Methodist Church stands. The first church building was a small wood and iron structure, which members nicknames "The Tin Temple". The church was described as follows: "The building is small, very hot in summer and very cold in winter. It is of corrugated iron and wood lined.
The extremely uncomfortable nature of the benches
deters many from coming regularly to the services and already it is
necessary to bring in extra chairs, borrowed from neighboring families".
In 1948, the Tin Temple was replaced by a brick hall. 
The
foundation stone was laid by Mr Tom Frates, who was the local member of
Parliament and after whom Frates Street is named. Mr. Frates had
actually done the drawings and design for this building. It was
able to accommodate 160 people. This structure is still in
existence and has been incorporated into the structure of the new Valley
Methodist Church.
The Rivera Methodist Church began in the 1930's as a Sunday School which met on the premises of the Dutch Reformed Church. In May 1947, the Rev J B Webb opened a hall in Parker Street, which was then used as a place of worship. This was sold to the Church of the Nazarene in 1974. It is still in use today, although many alterations have been made to it.
In 1966, the Gezina and Riviera Societies amalgamated to
form the Valley Society. This appears to have been somewhat of an
administrative arrangement as the two congregations continued to meet in
their respective buildings. During the first half of 1968 the
possibility of a further amalgamation, namely between Villieria and
Valley Society was then raised. This proposal was followed by
protracted, careful and, at times, acrimonious, negotiations.
The result was that in April 1970 the present Valley
Society was formed. This society met in the building on the corner
of Ben Swart Street and 29th Avenue.
On Saturday 25th November 1972, the foundation stone for a new church
building was laid. On 18th November 1973, the new Valley Methodist
Church was opened at 15:00.
Over the years, the growth of Valley has continued. In the early 1975 the house 589 29th Avenue was purchased as a manse for the second minister. In 1980, the manse at 812 Spioenkop Street was purchased. In 1984, a new Sunday School complex was built. In February 2002 a new manse in Collins Avenue was purchased. In January 2003 the 29th Avenue manse became a new administrative centre.
The ministerial staff at Valley has grown over the years. In 1975 a second minister was employed. In 1997, the first Youth Pastor at Valley was employed. In 2005 a Lay Pastor was added. The administrative staff has grown. In 1975 there was a caretaker and a secretary. An administrator, cleaner and gardener has been added since then.
Valley has also contributed to
the wider growth and development of the church. It has produced
several people in the Ordained ministry. It planted the
Church in Sinoville in the 1970's. This began with the
establishment of a Sunday School on 6th October 1974. Today it is
a thriving Society of 600 members.