F.J. Church & Sons Ltd
Centenary Works
Manor Way, New Road
Rainham, Essex
RM13 8RH England

t: +44 (0)1708 522651
f: +44 (0)1708 522786
e:traders@fjchurch.co.uk

Company History

A family business now in its fourth generation.
first a look at the previous generations of the family that established F J Church & Sons as a respected member of the recycling industry.

 

 

The founder of F J Church & Sons Limited, Mr Francis J. Church, first traded on the Cat & Mutton Bridge, Hackney in 1887. With horse and cart he collected iron and non-ferrous scrap from the east end of London. Soon he was joined by the next generation. 1
2
Francis and his son, Jack on the south coast in 1916. Jack was soon to become the Managing Director.
Jack Church in 1943. He was president of the ‘Southern Scrap Association’ in 1940 and spearheaded the recycling of scrap from the blitzed east end of London. He supported many local charities, wrote poetry, he owned his own racehorse and enthusiastically followed its fortunes.
 3
4 Jack Church surrounded by his family on a day's outing. Alongside Jack is his son Johnny, the next MD of F J Church & Sons Ltd.
Johnny Church took over the reigns of the company in 1951. A popular figure in the trade, Johnny also had a term as BSMA president. Johnny, playing the piano in the Ken Turner Big Band was pipped into second place on Opportunity Knocks by Lena Zavarroni!
Today..		 5

In 1975, with the premature death of their father, Johnny aged 46, the two teenagers Patrick and Stephen joined F J Church & Sons Ltd – the fourth generation. Supported with the experience of Messrs. Harry Farrow and Chris Papanastasiou the company moved forward again. The last 30 years have seen enormous changes: from the shrinking of UK metal manufacturing, the sourcing of new supplies from Eastern Europe, Africa and former British Colonies to the opening of the far east and Indian export markets. In the last five years FJC has also established a prominent position in the recycling of catalytic converters.

FJC continue to prosper in an industry which would be barely recognisable to the founder Francis Church, but the company is confident and enthusiastic to take head on the challenges lying ahead.