A Church Extension Sub Committee was set up to explore the possibilities of finding a suitable site for a new church building and it was during 1936 that they presented their report. They reported that a plot of land, known as Field Place Estate had been offered to them at very advantageous terms. A bridge over the railway line had recently been built and a wide road was being constructed between the Littlehampton Road and Shatesbury Avenue. The Southern Railway were proposing a new station (now Durrington on sea) to serve the ever increasing population. The committee suggest that not less than 3/4 acre site be secured, this was to give sufficient space for the erection of a Church Hall, Church, car parking and when the time was ripe also a Manse. The Church should have a seating capacity of 250. Cost of the building £2400 including furnishing. Cost of land £1600. 

1940 - 1949

ALL Free Churchmen are asked to note that Goring Free Church ser-vices are being held every Sunday in Elm Grove School.

It had been hoped that the building of the new church would have been well in hand by this time, but the war intervened, and the project has been indefinitely postponed.

On the 4th August 1940 37 friends attended the first morning service, led by Rev Morris Bold at Elm Grove School Hall.

Ministry of Rev F J H Humphrey

Rev F J H Humphrey was called to Elm Grove in 1942 and became minister at Goring until 1947. He was a much loved man and was held in high regard by the whole church and occupied an affectionate place in the hearts of all people with whom he came in contact . During his ministry at Goring, a church building fund was started , Ladies Working Party established, a class for the ‘little ones’ under the leadership of Mrs Humphrey’s sister, a branch of the Bible Reading Fellowship was started and an issue of a News Sheet was introduced. Mr A J Rule came to the church from Sheerness and proved to be richly endowed with a more than usual radiant personality—he was a steward—took a very active role in the running of the Management Committee—became Secretary.

Issue of the first magazine - The Chronicle.

At a meeting of the Committee of Management on the 17th April 1944 the Secretary, Mr A J Rule raised the question as to the issue of a news sheet on alternate months to Shelley Road’s “Outlook” magazine. The meeting asked Mr Rule to undertake the work of its preparation and publishing and during the following meeting in July of that year he reported that 150 copies of the 1^st number of the “Elm Grove Chronicle” had been issued at a cost of 18/6 (92½p).  It was decided not to make any charge.

Excerpt from that Chronicle :-

ELM GROVE CHRONICLE

(Goring Congregational Church)

MINISTER'S MESSAGE. It Is hoped that the occasional appearance of the Elm Grove Chronicle may serve to stimulate interest, and strengthen fellowship. If we fail to discover much latent literary ability, we shall nevertheless welcome contributions which have news value about the Kingdom of God. In our congregation at Elm Grove we have members of various Christian Churches, but we are one in seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. . . . .

And it is good and pleasant to see the many ways in which the Christian Churches are acting together in the face of the demands of both the present and the future.

In our circumstances our activities are limited. We can meet on the Lord's Day for worship, morning and evening, and we have our Prayer Circle, but as yet we have not been able to find a place for a meeting in the week, nor have we a fully organized Church life. But these limitations do not bar us from contributing to the work of God's Kingdom.

There is real service in the life of faith and prayer, and in these times when worship is lightly regarded and neglected by many, the personal maintenance of it is of great value. Vital worship is life, formal worship is death. We give ourselves in praise, we give ourselves in prayer, we give ourselves in the hearing of the Word of God,that we may be more truly not our own,but His re-dedicated,re-empowered and re-commissioned for witness and service.

The immediate result of a sincere effort to worship may be tiring, though in the long, run It be beneficial.

 F.J.H.Humphrey.

Although a date for the stone laying ceremony was actually fixed for November 1939 the complete building programme was very much delayed by the outbreak of the Second World War, in fact operations had to be abandoned for the time being.

Stone laying - Saturday 19th June 1948

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