The Methodist Central Hall in Swindon was built in 1906-7 by the Tydeman Brothers, a local building firm.  It was located in Clarence Street and backed onto Princes Street.  An extension - known as the New Hall - was built in 1956-7, this time by the Tydeman Brothers & Sons (the next generation of the family).  One of the Tydeman Brothers - William - is Duncan's great grandfather and was a member of the church and they built the church at cost.  The other brother was Walter Tydeman.  These photographs were taken by William's grandson Harold Ball, who is Duncan's father.  Harold told us he climbed onto the roof of the cinema next door during the stone laying ceremony of the New Hall to take some of these photographs!

The Methodist Central was not only a church for worship but for many years all sorts of events took place there, including concerts.  We have leaflets from a few events and will add them to these pages when time permits.

During the early 1970s the congregation joined with four other Swindon churches, all vacating their buildings, to become Central Church.  The Methodist Central Hall burnt down in May 1977 and was then demolished.

Central Church met in various churches, then settled in to the Trinity Presbytarian (URC) building until it moved into its new home in the Pilgrim Centre in November 1990.