Churches -
Changes
Resolution 4 New Churches
General Assembly
receives the Churches listed below as local churches of the United Reformed
Church.
NORTH WESTERN
SYNOD
Trinity Church Cottam Hall
Cottam, a village on the
edge of Preston with one shop and a Catholic church, had become the centre for
major new housing development. The United Reformed Church, joined with the
Methodists and Church of England to seek a spiritual heart for the new
community. With the help of local clergy and lay people, a constitution was
drawn up and signed on 16 July 2003 for Trinity Church Cottam Hall and a Church
Council formed, the first being held on 11 September the same year. In July
2004, a United Reformed Church minister, the Revd Lena Talbot, was inducted as
the minister to serve the three denominations. An average congregation numbers
about thirty, with many more on special occasions. Worship is held in the local
school or in the manse, while thought is given to the hopes for a church
building.The vision is a place of renewal, worship and sharing for the whole
community.
EASTERN SYNOD
Great Notley, Essex
(Baptist, Church of
England, Methodist,
United Reformed
Church)
Great Notley Garden
Village is a new housing development of around 10,000 souls built on greenfield
land south of Braintree. Braintree was a small market town (charter 1199) but is
now one of the fastest growing towns in the United Kingdom. Former industrial
sites have been replaced by modern housing. The nearby ‘Freeport Designer
Village’ is one source of employment, but many people commute to London, or work
at Stansted Airport.
For five years the
fellowship met in a portacabin, however, the fellowship is now required to move
and hire rooms for worship. Planning to construct a purpose built church and
associated rooms is well advanced and it is hoped that building will commence
during 2005.
The following
denominations: Baptist, Roman Catholic, Church of England, Methodist, and United
Reformed Church are contributing to the cost of the new building, and the
Baptist, Church of England, Methodist and United Reformed Church are represented
in the fellowship.
Worship is held twice on
Sundays, with 40 to 45 adults and 5 to 15 children attending the main morning
service. During the week a number of house groups are held for bible study and
fellowship. Several Alpha courses have been held, with two adults currently
undergoing preparation for confirmation. The fellowship is active in reaching
out to the village, and seeks to make contact with those moving into the
village. International outreach is supported through organisations such as
Christian Aid and the Christmas Child Appeal, while closer to home the local
Woman’s Refuge is supported with gifts at Easter and Christmas.
For several years the
fellowship was led by a pastor living locally and appointed from the Methodist
denomination. There is also support from the local Anglican priests.Great Notley
LEP is currently seeking United Reformed ministry in conjunction with the
ecumenical church at Coggeshall.
It is the unanimous
decision of a meeting of the fellowship that they be recognised and accepted as
a local church within the United Reformed Church. This request is supported by
all the other denominations involved in the fellowship and the Chelmsford
District of the United Reformed Church.
EAST MIDLANDS
SYNOD
Gamston, Nottinghamshire
On Advent Sunday, 28th
November 2004, The Church at Gamston, a Local Ecumenical Partnership between the
Methodist and United Reformed Church, officially began its life when 20 people
were welcomed into membership.
This service was the
culmination of over 10 years work at Gamston, the first monthly service was held
in October 1994.
The church meets at 10am
on Sundays in the Community Centre and its informal worship style attracts a
wide range of people, from all denominations and none, Both denominational
partners and the local Anglican church have also worked in partnership to create
a Voluntary Aided Church Primary School on the Gamston estate.
The Church at Gamston is
very grateful for the help from the Mission Council Grants & Loans Group for its
funding towards our Community Worker.
Resolution 5 Closure of
Local Churches
General Assembly
receives notice of the closure of the local churches listed below and gives
thanks to God for their worship, witness, and service throughout their history.
THAMES NORTH
Broadway United Reformed Church, Hammersmith
The history of the
Broadway United Reformed Church, Hammersmith, reaches back to the mid 1640s when
a chapel was built for those who did not wish to attend the Church of the
Establishment. Since that date a history of dedicated Christian fellowship made
up its life, and had its heyday in the creation of Friendly Societies at the
start of the 20th century.
Although, together with
many other churches, the number of members attending declined after the First
World War, the fellowship continued its tradition of adventurous discipleship.
Broadway United Reformed
Church, Hammersmith left their premises in Shepherds Bush Road some 25 years ago
and were invited to worship in St Paul’s Anglican Church and eventually they had
a Sharing Agreement. This was dissolved when St Paul’s came under new
management. From an initiative by the Revd John Cooke the Methodist
Superintendent they were then welcomed into Rivercourt Methodist Church,
Hammersmith. From this welcome there has arisen co-operation between the United
Reformed Church and Methodist Churches in the Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
During the past few years
they have not only had a valuable part to play in a ministry to Hammersmith but
also a very real Ministry with their money. This was always the case because it
was from the original Broadway Congregational Church that the Congregational
Friendly Society was run and this had a very real impact in the Borough in less
affluent times.
Over the past few years
their money and property has enabled mission to be developed in the Synod and
other good causes. The culmination of this work was the re-siting of the Macbeth
Stone. The Reverend Robert Macbeth was a minister of the Church (from 1853 to
1892) who did great work in teaching and study for those less able and the stone
to commemorate his life and work was re-sited in 2003 and officially opened by
the Mayor of Hammersmith in the Macbeth Centre in Robert Macbeth Street which is
a centre solely to promote Adult Learning.
From this time and also
as a result of the Catch the Vision Process they moved towards a more settled
life within Rivercourt Methodist Church and on the 2nd May 2004 they moved
forward into a Covenant with Rivercourt and on the journey towards a new
ecumenical adventure it was therefore felt right to close Broadway URC.
Sadly, on 3rd August 2004
Stella Fowler who at 88 years of age and still the Church Secretary after over
25 years’ service died. We give thanks for her life and service to her Lord
Jesus Christ.
While the remaining
members of Broadway United Reformed Church move onwards in their ecumenical
work, the Church was formally closed on the 9th October 2005 with thanksgiving
for the work, service and witness to the people of Hammersmith.
MERSEY SYNOD
ECCLESTONE URC
In 1934 a decision was
taken by members of Ormskirk Street (Congregational) church to build a Sunday
school in Eccleston, a village on the outskirts of St Helens and to whose new
developments several members of the town centre church had moved. The Sunday
school began in the home of a member and by 1935 sufficient funds had been
raised and a piece of land obtained to begin the building. Miss Constance
Pilkington opened this on 22nd February 1936, and the next day was constituted
as a church. For the first six years of its life it was in a joint pastorate
with Haresfinch, but by 1946 was able to support its own full time minister, The
Revd Geoffrey Beck. During his ministry work with young people flourished.
During the years 1956 – 1962 Eccleston was served by the hymn writer Revd A F
Bayly and at this time the church resolved to build a separate sanctuary. The
build began in 1968 and was officially opened on the 23rd February 1969 by Lord
Pilkington. In September 1981 Eccleston joined with Newtown and Haresfinch to
become the Trinity Group.
This was dissolved in
1987 and new joint pastorate of Eccleston and Newtown created. This arrangement
continued until Eccleston took the decision to close because of seemingly
insurmountable building problems, some of which had been ongoing in the original
building for most of its life. This had proved a great strain on both resources
and morale. The church officially closed in June 2004 when many former members
and some ministers joined with the congregation to give thanks to God in
celebration of the life of the church and the place it had held in the
community. Over its life the church had provided a home for many diverse church
and community groups including Brownies and Guides, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.
During the comparatively short life of the church three of its members have
trained for full time stipendiary ministry. The church can be proud of its
record. Most of the members have now found homes in other churches within St
Helens and District. The land will still serve the community as it is to be used
for retirement homes, something that is in very short supply within the area.
SOUTH WESTERN
SYNOD
Foxhole United Reformed Church, Paignton
Our church at Foxhole was
founded in 1954, the brain-child of the Revd Lionel Willoughby and the members
of Dartmouth Road Congregational Church, Paignton. It was felt that a Christian
witness was needed on what was, at that time, a large council estate. Our
Anglican friends had already made a move in that direction and together it was
felt that two churches together could serve both the estate and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
From the very beginning,
the church was youth orientated. At one time there were over 120 children in the
junior church. The church also ran a Girls’ Brigade together with a junior
section of a Boys’ Brigade
Company. Later on a Pilot
Company was started. As well as this, a women’s meeting and a Bible study group
were formed.
Our church was always
served well by its ministers who worked long and hard for the cause. Although
earlier the church had become part of the life of the estate, in later years the
people of Foxhole came to see the church as little more than a place that had
rooms to hire. Another real problem was the attention that the building received
from vandals. The decision was thus taken to close and the final thanksgiving
service was held on 19th December 2004.
Although compared with
other churches, ours had only a short life, we can be sure that it served our
Lord well and became a centre of Christian life and witness.
WEST MIDLANDS
SYNOD
Salem, Great Bridge 1835–2004
The Church was
established 1st January 1835 as an inter-denominational experiment in response
to a prayer meeting. These Christian folk, including Baptists and Methodists,
were convinced of the need for ministry and mission in a developing industrial
area. At first they rented a room, then obtained some land off Sheepwash Lane
where they built a schoolroom and then a chapel in 1839. Ministers were sought
through the Staffordshire Union, but were often shared with Oldbury, Tipton,
Wednesbury, or West Bromwich. There were seasons of success, reflected in the
building of the Centenary Hall to cope with a Sunday School of 500 pupils.
Decline of the area and the chapel, in the post-war period resulted in the
demolition of the old chapel in 1960, with use of the (new) hall for worship and
meetings, which continued until the strength was no longer equal to the task and
the Church Meeting voted for closure by 30th June 2004.
WEST MIDLANDS
SYNOD
Silverdale, Newcastle-u-Lyme, 1867–2004
A need to establish a
Congregational presence within a thriving mining community was part of the
Mission concept discussed at a conference held in Hanley Tabernacle. Following
this an evangelist was stationed in Silverdale. The first meeting place was a
cottage in Bridge Street; this became known as the Independent Chapel. Singing
was popular and the Church became renowned for its choir. The Sunday School
flourished and it was apparent that the cottage had become too
small. The congregation
moved to a building known as the ‘Welsh Chapel’ and then there was another move
to the Temperance Hall. Soon after, the present Church building and Schoolrooms
were planned and the building erected under the inspired leadership of the Revd
Bell. For many years afterwards it was known as ‘Bell’s Chapel’. Following a
significant drop in attendance figures and spiralling running costs, the Church
meeting voted for closure. The closing service was held 3rd October 2004.
EASTERN SYNOD
South Ockendon, Essex
Early in the 19th
century, a group gathered together for fellowship, having become disenchanted
with the established church. In 1812, a chapel was built. A feature of those
early days was the church’s concern for the education of poor children.
By 1945, a strong
fellowship witnessed to the village. At this time the local population suddenly
increased, with a large number of ‘pre-fab’ houses. The church seized the
opportunity and the congregation increased. Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade were
formed and the Sunday School was large. During the 1950’s, ‘Belhus Estate’ –
between South Ockendon and Aveley – was chosen as a site for ‘London Overspill’
development, and the population mushroomed.
Following the sad death
in service of the Revd Arnold Sykes, the Revd Lawrence Jones was called. The
church decided that its position in the old village was a constraint to mission,
and set in motion a move to the new estate. After the Revd John Hickmore was
called in 1963, the final outstanding financing was found, and the church moved
to its new building – Christ Church. The Revd John Huxtable led the inaugural
service. During John Hickmore’s ministry the church thrived, using all the
facilities the new building offered for work in the community.
However, the ‘Overspill’
planners had not foreseen the problems when people are taken from an inner city
environment and placed in a rural community. These community problems were
having an effect on the church. After John Hickmore left in 1969, there was a
plan to form South Ockendon, Aveley and Orsett into a Group served by two
ministers. The Revd Helen Ashton was called, but unfortunately a second minister
was not forthcoming and after a short but demanding ministry, Helen moved on.
The Revd John Hussey was
called in 1972 to a shared pastorate with Aveley, as Orsett had decided to
remain Congregational. During his ministry until 1978, there was stability and
growth, with youth and community activities thriving.
In 1985, after two long
vacancies around the three year ministry of the Revd Drummond Gillespie, the
shared pastorate was discontinued. The Revd Jack Roche was called to South
Ockendon. There was, by then, an ageing and declining membership and criminal
and anti-social behaviour by the local youth was becoming a serious problem for
morale as well as for building maintenance. Nonetheless, the church maintained
its Boys and Girls Brigade work, including a very successful marching band.
There was also a significant ministry to the immediate locality, the most
deprived ward in the Borough.
Throughout the 1990’s
vandalism intensified and the small but determined congregation struggled to
meet the cost of security and ever rising insurance premiums. Lack of leaders
left a dwindling group to run Brigade work. Following Jack Roche’s departure in
2000, the decision was made to close. The last service was held on 29th July
2001 where thanks were given to God for His work amongst the community in the
area.
SOUTH WESTERN
SYNOD
St Thomas United Reformed Church, Exeter
1901-2004
St Thomas Congregational
Church was founded in 1901 by Albert Edward Dunn, a deacon at Southernhay
Congregational Church and a local solicitor. He later became Mayor of Exeter and
MP for Cambourne. A chapel was built on a site rented from Exeter City Council.
After a somewhat shaky start, by 1905 there were 42 members on the roll. In 1908
a gym was started on the premises, but boxing was not permitted. In 1913 two of
the deacons were women, still fairly unusual at that time. By 1922 the church
had 85 members.
The finances of the
chapel were often uncertain. In 1908 the minister had to resign when the church
could no longer support him financially. Eventually, with help from the Devon
Congregational Union, another minister was appointed. In 1924 the City Council
asked if the church would buy the land on which their buildings stood. This the
congregation did, but it was a struggle and by 1930 finances were once again in
a critical state. The manse was let and it was suggested to the incoming
minister that he might remain unmarried until the church was better off. Once
again, the Devon Congregational Union stepped in and became the trustees.
Despite this, the various organizations within the church, including the Women’s
Bright Hour, were all flourishing.
In 1946 St Thomas,
together with two other mission churches in the city, were brought into a group
under the guidance of the Southernhay Congregational Church. Southernhay gave
help in the form of a deacon when the group had no minister. Thirty years later,
St Thomas URC and Southernhay URC were brought together in one joint pastorate.
In 1979 the Pilots Company closed after 33 years service. It had been one of the
first to be formed within the Congregational Church.
In 1987 some of the
church buildings were sold to pay for the refurbishment of the church and in
2001, centenary celebrations were held. However, the financial pressures that
had so often been a cause for concern increased and in 2004, the congregation
decided that their work at the St Thomas site was done and that it was time to
move on. The church meeting took the decision to unite with Southernhay URC and
the final service was held on December 19th 2004. This was a very joyful
occasion with former members and ministers attending when thanks were given for
over a hundred years of loyal service and witness. The service of the members of
the congregation continues, for some at Southernhay and for some at St Thomas
Methodist Church. We thank God for all they have given and all they will
continue to give.
YORKSHIRE SYNOD
Swinton United Reformed Church
The Church (formerly the
Congregational Church) was built originally in 1824, but a new and larger one
was built on its present site in 1900. The Church is built of stone with a
seating capacity of approximately 200 people. It used to have a balcony but this
was partitioned off to form a barrier against draughts, and made into a
storeroom. In its hey day, the Church had a large congregation and also boasted
a good Sunday School, a strong youth group, badminton club, a drama group and
snooker club. The numbers sadly, have steadily declined to a membership of 14
with a regular attendance at worship of 8. There are good relationships with the
other churches in Swinton through Churches Together, the Bible Society and
Christian Aid. Until a few years ago, Brownies and Mothers and Toddlers groups
met regularly in the Hall but both had difficulty in finding leaders so
therefore discontinued. In January 2002, to help the church members in their
Spiritual journey, Swinton became part of a group pastorate with two Churches 12
miles away in Doncaster, but a recent buildings survey revealed that some parts
of the Church buildings were unsafe. Unfortunately owing to illness and ageing
membership, there had been difficulty in adequately maintaining the buildings.
The Church members give grateful thanks to their Minister and the Churches in
the group pastorate who have given both spiritual and physical support, but
after much thought and prayerful discussion, felt that there was no alternative
but to close the Church and to find new places in which to worship. The final
service took place on Sunday 8’th May 2005.
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