IT was a time when Sunday was still considered to be different from other days, a day of rest when families went to church and Southampton was a world away from the busy city of today.

Memories of those distant days were recalled when these three photographs came to light showing members of the Northam Primitive Methodist Church in Southampton in the early part of the last century.

According to the Daily Echo's archives, the church celebrated 100 years in the district of Northam in 1970.

It seems the pioneer members of the Methodist Society first met in the front room of a house near Millbank Street, Northam before moving to a small loft in Princes Street.

Soon membership increased and in 1870 negotiations were opened for a site in Union Street where Northam Methodist Church now stands.

By 1874 the "Old Chapel'' had been built but it was some time before the church was authorised for marriages. On September 11, 1911 the first wedding took place between Frederick John Cotton and Fanny Cooper.

It was around this time the church had its own band which would play in the surrounding streets before services as well as a well-attended Sunday School and women's section.

After some years it became apparent that more accommodation was needed for youth work, and the trustees bought two small cottages adjoining the church for the Sunday School.

These were eventually demolished and in July 1928 the foundation stone was laid at the present site. Several times in the history of Northam Methodist Church the congregation was joined by members of other Methodist churches in the city which had closed.

These included South Primitive Methodist Church, the Bevois Town Methodist, the Methodist Central Hall in St Mary Street and St Denys Methodist Church.

The photographs belong to Audrey Riddle of Sholing, Southampton, a longtime member of the Northam Methodist Church.