Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 16 December 1876

New Mission Room, Half Acre Row.

This new building, which is situated in one of the poorest parts of the parish, was opened on Wednesday evening, a tea given by a few kind ladies to about 70 of the poor people, for whose benefit the new room has been erected. After tea, which all seemed heartily to enjoy, the Rev. D. F. Wilson (vicar), in a few kind words expressed the pleasure it gave him to see the building not only completed but paid for, the amount, £110, having been raised by penny subscriptions, supplemented by donations from a few of the more wealthy inhabitants of Mitcham. J. Coles, Esq., spoke on the question of temperance. Jerman Nobes, Esq., after speaking of the energy and untiring zeal of Mr. Samuel Palmer, the scripture reader, who has taken an active part in the erection of the new room, said that he could not close without mentioning in the highest terms of esteem Mr. F. King and Mr. John R. Chart, who had assisted in the services in the old room they had left. Mr. S. Palmer explained the objects for which the new building would be used. There would not only be held a Sunday school and two services on the Sunday, but it was intended to open the room under the management of a committee of gentlemen as a Working Men’s Institute. Mr, F. King, Mr. J. Kenyon, Mr. J. R. Chart, and Mr. A. Reeves, each said a few words. A hymn having been sung the usual thanks to the ladies brought interesting meeting to a close.