Churches -
Changes
Resolution 5
New Churches
General
Assembly receives the Churches listed below as local churches of the Untied
Reformed Church
EASTERN SYNOD
Cambourne LEP,
Cambridgeshire
(Church of England, Baptist, Methodist, United Reformed Church)
Cambourne is a new
“village” between Cambridge and St Neots. The plan is for 4000 houses over 10
years; the scheme is now two thirds of the way through.
In 2002 Churches Together
in Cambourne was received as a mission project of the United Reformed Church at
the General Assembly,
The church first met in
the doctors’ surgery, purchased a portacabin in 2002 (called The Ark) where
services were held. It was the only community meeting place in Cambourne for
some time, so is hired out to community groups during the week and still used as
a venue for church social events and holiday clubs. This is great for outreach
and it means that everyone is familiar with The Ark.
Our church services now
take place in the new community centre, but The Ark is still used for Young
Church on a Sunday and is the home of the pre-school during the week.
We are in the process of
fundraising for a new church centre, having been given an acre of land at the
top of the High Street, by the developers. Building is due to start this summer,
funds coming from our sponsoring churches, our own church family and trust
funds, etc.
To date we have around
half the amount pledged and have applied for a grant from EEDA which if we are
awarded, will bring us close to our £1.7 million needed. We are thrilled with
and deeply grateful for a recent donation of £15,000 from St Ives Free Church.
Our vision is to build a beautiful worship space, which can also be a resource
for the whole community.
We have 2 services on
Sunday morning, one with more of a reflective style and the later one more
participatory. Young people are an important part of our church family and make
up one third of the congregation here. Young church activities are offered at
the 1100 service in 4 age groups between 0-12 years.
We have 40 members at
present who are committed to our ecumenical approach and a wider church family
of about 160.
It was a unanimous
decision of the Church Council that the time is right to move on from being a
mission project to becoming full members of the United Reformed Church.
Resolution 6
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 history.
NORTHERN SYNOD
Birdhopecraig
Birdhopecraig reckoned
itself to be possibly the oldest non-conformist congregation in Northumberland.
It was founded in the 17th century through the activity of Presbyterian
preachers from Scotland seeking refuge in the remote Rede valley, where a number
of place names still testify to open-air preaching stations from the time. When
Toleration allowed the licensing of buildings, the congregation erected a chapel
on Birdhopecraig; but the ravages of the weather on the crag eventually drove
them down into the valley to the village of Rochester, bringing the name with
them.
A break-away congregation
was formed in Otterburn in the 19th century; and in 1972 another first was
claimed when the new minister of what was now the joint pastorate was the first
to be inducted within the United Reformed Church. Some time later the Otterburn
church closed, and its remaining members returned to Birdhopecraig.
In 2005 it was recognised
that dwindling numbers made the cause untenable, and the reluctant decision was
made to close. Most of the members agreed to transfer their membership to
Thropton in Coquetdale – a considerable distance away, especially over winter
roads. However, the Anglican church in Otterburn, where most of the congregation
now live, saw this as an ecumenical opportunity; and at a well attended service
held early in 2006 the former members of Birdhopecraig received an ecumenical
welcome as members of the United Reformed Church into the life and fellowship of
St John’s.
Embleton
The village of Embleton
on the beautiful Northumberland coast saw the foundation of a Presbyterian
church in 1834. Its third minister, William Stead, is remembered as the father
of the great Victorian campaigning journalist, W T Stead, who was born in the
Manse, and was eventually drowned in the sinking of the Titanic.
In recent times there
have been close relationships between this congregation and the parish church of
Holy Trinity, who offered a home (under Canon B43) when the chapel was no longer
serviceable. But increasingly there was a feeling that the cause was too small
to maintain a separate existence or to enter into any formal ecumenical
partnership, and the decision was eventually taken to close.
The church secretary
records that at the final service (held of course in the parish church) in
October 2005 “a time of sadness and poignancy was recognised, but quickly
dispelled by the ringing of the church bells symbolising thanksgiving and
celebration.” The vote of thanks to visitors was given by the local MP, Rt Hon
Alan Beith; and it was also reported that, as the final years of the church’s
witness had been marked by support for local ecumenism and Commitment for Life,
the remaining assets would be used as far as possible to support ecumenical
projects and development work.
Norton
The history of this
congregation goes back to meetings of a group known as “Reformists” in 1854. In
1874 the present church was built and known as the United Free Methodist Church.
In 1885, the Church became Norton Congregational Church. Sunday School outreach
was started in 1920, as new housing grew up in areas nearby and a Sunday School
hall was built in 1934. Cubs, Scouts and Girls Brigade flourished, the latter
for over 50 years. On the formation of the United Reformed Church, ministry was
shared with other churches, and eventually Norton became part of the Teesdale
Group.
In recent years the
congregation had become small, with few able to take on the work of leadership
and eldership, and with diminishing financial resources. The difficult decision
to close was made in 2005. A service of thanksgiving for the faithful life and
witness of Norton United Reformed Church was held in July, at which members,
former members and friends testified to the impact of the church on their lives
and on the life of the community.
NORTH WESTERN
SYNOD
Preston, Grimshaw Street
In 1807 a young Unitarian
minister in Preston, Revd William Manning Walker, found himself being led to a
more evangelical faith. When the trustees asked him to resign, most of his
congregation built a new chapel for him in Grimshaw Street, where Mr Walker was
ordained as an Independent minister. A new church replaced the original chapel
in 1859 and in 1868 a day school was built. This school had a high reputation in
the town, but after expensive structural changes were required by the local
education authority if the school was to continue, the church closed the school
in 1993. The school premises were requisitioned during the Second World War.
The decline in church
attendance in the twentieth century affected the churches in Preston as
elsewhere. The oldest Congregational Church in Preston, Cannon Street, closed in
1952, the members joining Grimshaw Street. By the end of the century, the
congregation was gathered from a wide area, members having generations of
involvement with the church. The location at the edge of the city centre proved
unattractive for mid week activities. The school buildings were used for
community activities, which brought income to the church, but not enough to
maintain the buildings to modern requirements. The church closed in 2005, with
members transferring to other churches.
Horwich, Lee Lane
Like most of its
Lancashire neighbours, this fellowship mirrors the growth and decline of local
industry. It began with the struggle of independently minded artisans in the
textile trades of the early nineteenth century, meeting first in hired rooms
then, as numbers mushroomed, in its own gothic chapel on the main street of
Horwich. Work with children and young people eventually required extra buildings
which expanded magnificently over the next fifty years. The fellowship now
catered for whole families from the cradle to the grave: social activities were
as prominent as the twice-on-Sunday School and Chapel with sports clubs,
uniformed organisations, dramatic society and dances.
The town became the home
of Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway’s engine works and prospered until the
mid-fifties of the last century, and its subsequent decline was mirrored in the
church membership. By 1980 a series of crises led to the church sharing premises
and worship with the local Church Army mission, an arrangement which was
regularised in an local ecumenical partnership where the former identities were
fully merged. The school buildings were sold and the chapel was adapted for both
social and worship activities. Falling numbers and increasing age continued to
sap the enthusiasm of members despite its full part in pastorate group
arrangements. Three years ago they began a long period of examination to
identify a continuing rôle in the community, but finally and heroically decided
that their time had come. The closing service was held in spring 2005 and the
fellowship dispersed.
MERSEY SYNOD
Union United Reformed
Church, Frodsham
In 1878, in an old mill
room by the River Weaver, two men, Mr John Jackson, a Baptist, and Mr Thomas
Rigby, a Congregationalist, started a Sunday school. The following year a United
Church of Baptists and Congregationalists was formally established and over the
next seven years flourished, so much so that the present building, which
includes the Baptistry, had been erected and opened for worship. The site had
previously held a rather unsavoury tavern, which had become notorious for its
association with the men constructing the railway, and a few cottages.
The church was completed
in March 1887 and on Sunday 27th, the members and Sunday School scholars
assembled for the last time in the Mill Room and processed to the new church
singing the hymn ‘Holy, holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, early in the morning our
song shall rise to Thee’. The church was called ‘Union’, indicating its origins
as an early LEP bringing together Baptists and Independents.
In 1886 the church was
admitted to the County Union and by 1899 was strong enough to support its own
pastor.
Jumping forward, in 1978,
after eight years without a Minister, Union Church, together with Northwich and
Moulton United Reformed Churches formed a Joint Pastorate and called Revd David
Spence to be their Minister. David served for eleven years and the church grew
under his leadership.
A third ‘joint pastorate’
ended in 2003 but by this time Moulton church had closed. Northwich was then
linked with Winsford and Frodsham declared vacant with ‘one quarter scoping’.
The church realized however that its financial position was unsustainable, and
early in 2005 concluded that it too must close.
A final act of worship
and service of celebration was held on Sunday 10th July 2005, led by Revd Alan
Johnston, Interim Moderator, and Revd Howard Sharp, Moderator of Mersey Synod.
EAST MIDLANDS
SYNOD
Emmanuel Church, Spinney Hill Road, Leicester
With a mixture of sadness
and joy, we mark the end of Emmanuel URC. In marking it, we should remember some
of the extraordinary work that has come out of it.
Originally known as Newby
Street Congregational Chapel, and built in the Victorian expansion of Leicester,
it served a small but densely populated area. Like many non conformist Chapels,
it had a very large Sunday school, and a loyal congregation.
During the 2nd World War,
while Coventry was bombed, Leicester also had its share of being attacked. The
original Chapel was destroyed. The school rooms continued to be used for
worship, until the late 1960’s.
Re-development in the
early ‘70s saw the church re sited, only a hundred yards distant from the
original site. A brand new chapel Charnwood United Reformed Church was opened in
1974. It was a purpose built premises, and had great facilities.
In the early to mid
1990’s, although membership was not vast, It was a growing Church, with people
making commitments to Christ almost every week. Under the leadership of Revd
Richard Goddard there was a music group of over 12 (and not enough space for
everyone to play !) There was also a full time Evangelist and Youth Worker,
David Goddard. Sunday Worship, mornings and evenings were very well attended.
There were activities everyday, and all of them connected to outreach and
prayer.
There was a name change
in 1994 to Emmanuel URC, to highlight the sense of calling and mission that the
fellowship felt at that time.
In 1992, The Rock Coffee
bar was opened, staying open till the early hours of the morning several nights
a week. From here an outreach to local kids and prostitutes was very effective.
Lives were changed, and up to 15 members of the Church would be out at night
sharing the Gospel to people on the edge. This was a continuance of Revd David
Morris’ work among homeless men, which he had started from Charnwood URC in the
1970’s.
It was a very young
fellowship with the majority under 40, and in their 20’s. Many were students,
and moved on in time.
Revd Graham Knights was
the last inducted Minister, and did great work continuing local community
service.
Being a inner city site,
very few connected to Emmanuel lived locally. The young members moved on and
away.
But, from Emmanuel, have
come many people who continue to serve with different forms of Christian
Ministry, both lay and ordained. Emmanuel has been a very important springboard
to a fuller Christian life for many people, and has served it’s purpose well.
Thanks be to God for the legacy that remains within all of us who loved and grew
there.
Moorgreen United Reformed Church
A closing service was
held at Moorgreen on 11th July 2004, a celebration of all that had been done
together since the congregation was established in 1662. Meetings began in
secret on the site of the church building led by Robert Smalley, who was born
locally in Beeston, Nottingham, ordained in 1652 and served in Greasley Church
as ‘minister’ before being ejected under the Act of Uniformity. He lived locally
until the ‘Five Mile Act’ was passed then moved to Mansfield but still travelled
faithfully each Sunday to preach at Moorgreen. A Presbyterian Church was
founded, without buildings and minute books, but with a church meeting and
breaking of bread, prayer and fellowship.
In 1772 the church became
Congregational and records are held from this date. Ministry has usually been
shared with neighbouring congregations, Ilkeston, Eastwood (begun by members of
Moorgreen) and Marlpool. The church building was erected in 1790 on land given
for the purpose of worship. Links with Paton College were formed through student
preachers from 1920 onwards. At the beginning of the United Reformed Church in
1972 Moorgreen was linked with Eastwood and Marlpool and became part of the
Erewash Valley Group.
In 1986 the church
considered closure due to few members, but there was a new lease of life for a
while. In 2004, with the deteriorating state of the building, its rural setting
with limited public transport and few affordable houses for young families, the
decision was finally taken to close. Members have found spiritual homes in other
local churches and the buildings will be sold and the sale proceeds used to
benefit the Erewash Valley Group through a Charitable Trust.
WEST MIDLANDS
SYNOD
West Bromwich United Reformed Church
The West Bromwich United
Reformed Church was opened in 1971 after the coming together of Ebenezer and
Mayers Green Congregational churches after a compulsory purchase order had been
put on Mayers Green. Ebenezer’s origins date back to 1662 when the Old Meeting
House formed, whilst Mayers Green’s origins can be traced back to 1787.
At the time of opening
the church was the only Congregational church left in the centre of West
Bromwich. In the past there was a flourishing congregation including Sunday
School, Youth Club etc., but as young people grew up and moved away the
congregation aged. When the site was acquired by Tesco as part of the
re-development of West Bromwich town centre it was decided not to have a new
church built, for many of the congregation came from well outside the West
Bromwich area. After many years of negotiation, during which time the
congregation became even smaller, a valedictory service was held on 1st October
2005 with the final service on 6th November, 2005.
EASTERN SYNOD
Aveley
Founded in 1817, Aveley
Congregational Church was one of several Independent Churches planted among the
small rural communities of Southern Essex in the early part of the 19th century.
Reflecting the growing influence of nonconformity at the time, the congregation
erected a building and halls on grounds that straddled the village High Street.
For the remaining years
of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the church membership remained stable,
being drawn from a community largely unaffected by the major population movement
to the cities. It retained its links to the other Congregational Churches of the
area, and at various times shared ministerial oversight with them.
The Second World War
brought significant change, with the nearby development of London Borough
‘overspill’ estates, coupled to a major development of the original village, to
re-house evacuees from the East End.
In the immediate post-war
years, the congregation flourished, particularly with work among children and
young people. However, by late 1960’s, the church was again under ministerial
oversight shared with the Orsett and South Ockenden congregations.
For a while the church
was linked with the South Ockenden church, together forming the ‘Christ Church’
pastorate. Though work with youth organisations continued to the early 1990’s,
the congregation had significantly declined, affected by a rapidly changing
population as local housing policy changed and families moved away from the
area.
In 1990 Aveley was given
oversight by local leadership. In early 2002 the discovery of significant rot
and beetle damage to the building led the remaining members to resolve to close
the church, at a Church Meeting on 2 May 2002.
The final service of
Thanksgiving for the Life and Work of Aveley United Reformed Church was held on
it 185th anniversary, Sunday 20 October 2002.
Harwich Road, Colchester
The origin of the
worshipping community at the site in Harwich Road can be traced back to 1840
when a Sunday School is known to have been meeting in a room close by. In 1841
Revd T W Davids, minister at Lion Walk Congregational Church, felt called to
evangelism in the outlying parts of the town of Colchester and so the original
church, built at Harwich Road, opened on 23rd February 1845 under the direction
of Lion Walk Church. The Sunday School grew to such an extent that in 1928 a
School Hall was erected on land made available by the kindness of the Diocesan
Parochial authorities of the Church of England.
In 1936 the Revd A B
Grosvenor, who was then assistant minister at Lion Walk Congregational Church,
was specially authorised to devote himself to work at Harwich Road. At that time
the area around the new church was a rapidly growing one and the church had a
core membership of 60; a large number of young people; many and varied weekday
activities; and the premises housed the largest Sunday School in the Colchester
and District Sunday School Union.
In 1938, the new Church
building was built to seat 250. The church continued to be run as part of Lion
Walk, including a Church Council on which their Deacons took part until 1st
April 1948, when the church accepted autonomy and became a Church in its own
right. In the 1950’s it became an independent body within the Congregational
Union. By 1950 the church was thriving with membership increased to around 100
and a Sunday School of 150. There were many groups and clubs including Scouts,
Cubs, Guides, Brownies, Sisterhood, Wives Group, Youth Club and a Tennis Club
all closely associated with the church.
The Harwich Road
congregation agreed to join the United Reformed Church in 1973, and became part
of the Colchester Group, which comprised Christ Church, Shrub End (now known as
Plume Avenue), Parsons Heath, Tollesbury and Tolleshunt D’Arcy. At that time,
the Revd R Landon was called to a joint ministry at Harwich Road and Shrub End.
After a number of years, the Parsons Heath church closed. The church at
Tolleshunt D’Arcy remained in partnership with Harwich Road and Christ Church
until its closure.
The congregation at
Harwich Road have not been complacent and latterly there have been several
attempts to revive the fortunes of the church at Harwich Road. Initially it was
hoped that the church land would be sold to finance a rebuilding project. It was
planned to share buildings with a charity for teaching those with learning
disabilities, to include a cafe and community centre. Disappointment came with
the news that the charity’s work was to be absorbed into the NHS. Further
avenues were explored, and the most recent plan would have incorporated a new
smaller multi-purpose church and hall with two flats built above: the rest of
the land being sold to a developer for residential use, which would finance the
new church building. Sadly, this was not to be, and the worshipping community at
Harwich Road took the decision to close. They believe that God is leading them
elsewhere, separately or together, to continue the work and witness that began
in Harwich Road 160 years ago.
A service of thanksgiving
to celebrate the life, witness and worship that has found its place in this
church was held on Sunday, 10th July, 2005.
SOUTH WESTERN
SYNOD
Cleveden United Reformed Church
In 1812, a group of
Dissenters began meeting for worship in a cottage in what is now known as All
Saints Lane, Clevedon. By 1826 they were strong enough to build their own place
of worship which gave its name to Chapel Hill. At this time, the only other
place of worship in Clevedon was the old Parish Church (now St Andrew’s) which
was well outside the village as it then was.
Accordingly the
congregation grew and flourished and in 1855 it was decided to build a
completely new Congregational Church in Hill Road. This was opened in 1856 and
became the home of the church for the next 128 years, by which time it was part
of a joint pastorate with Nailsea United Reformed Church.
In the early 1980s, the
condition of the building was such that the difficult decision was taken to move
out of the Hill Road premises. An agreement was reached with the congregation of
St Peter’s Church in Alexandra Road and the sharing of the premises began in
February 1984. The formal Sharing Agreement was signed on 12th May 1985. The two
congregations continued to meet separately although joint festival services were
subsequently held on four occasions in the year and latterly two joint Communion
services (one according to each tradition) were shared.
In early 2004, the
congregation realising that numbers were in decline and the remainder were
getting older began to give some thought to the future. Closer links with the
Church of England congregation did not seem appropriate and eventually the
decision to close as a separate congregation on Easter Day 2006 was taken. Prior
to this, a special service celebrating the life of the church, at which the
Moderator of the South Western Synod preached, was held on Palm Sunday, April
9th 2006. Members now worship elsewhere in the town, although some members now
attend the United Reformed Church at Nailsea.
SOUTHERN SYNOD
Bosham
Enjoying a unique
position in the harbourside village of Bosham, the church’s original
congregation comprised of mainly fishermen and boat builders who had become
disenchanted with the established church. They began meeting in an oyster shed
in 1812. In the Church Book of 1825, there is written “… the village of Bosham
was, until the year 1812, proverbial for ignorance and wickedness, there being
no Gospel either in the established church or out of it…”. Their numbers grew to
the extent that they needed a chapel of their own. A piece of land was
subsequently purchased for £115, which included a thatched cottage, and building
commenced. The present church building was opened in 1837.
By 1875 a schoolroom was
added, while in 1928 a manse was purchased for the incumbent. By 1937 the
Congregational Church in Bosham had a flourishing Sunday School, and indeed one
of most enjoyable days of the year was the Sunday School Summer outing where
horses and carts took upwards of fifty children to the surrounding countryside
for a picnic. During the war years table tennis was played regularly in the hall
by villagers and servicemen stationed in the area.
The 1940’s were the
church’s heyday and since that time numbers attending Sunday services have
continued to decline. One of the main achievements of Bosham United Reformed
Church was that it founded the Churches Together in Bosham group. This
ecumenical group has been one of the main sources of support in recent years.
At the beginning of 2005
the membership decided that the time had come to complete the mission begun
nearly 193 years before, and the final service was held on the 21st June 2005.
Southfleet United Reformed Church
About 1840, some members
of the Congregational Church in Princes Street, Gravesend, concerned for the
spiritual condition of the outlying villages commenced Christian teaching and
worship in cottages in and around the villages of Southfleet and Betsham. A more
permanent home became possible with the purchase of a plot of land and the
building of a chapel, completed and opened in the autumn of 1896 with a school
room added in 1908 to accommodate the thriving Sunday School. Jumping ahead some
generations, the church celebrated its centenary in 1996 with members of the
North Kent United Reformed Church Group – of which it was by then a member and
the then Moderator, David Helyar preached. It had by then become a very much
smaller church with a loyal congregation worshipping on Sunday evenings – led by
their Minister and a variety of local preachers. The high point of every year
has been a summer service with Strawberry Tea. Southfleet has additionally been
the traditional gathering place for the North Kent Group on Good Friday each
year joining the Parish Church for an ecumenical service of witness. Despite
good ecumenical relations, evangelistic activities and offering the only evening
service in the village, the church membership has remained static at 3 and
finances have not been available to maintain the greatly treasured chapel
building. On 31st January 2005 the remaining church members passed the following
resolution: “With a heavy heart but with great pride in all that has been
achieved over the years in the locality by the church, we agree to the closure
of the Southfleet United Reformed Church in the course of 2005.” A celebratory
act of worship with a final Strawberry Tea was held on 19th June 2005 and the
formal closure service with representatives of Medway District Council took
place on Sunday 30th October led by the Minister Revd Peter Clark, with guest
preacher John Ellis. Having made the decision to bring the formal church
activity to completion, the group awaits the guidance of that same Holy Spirit
to see where it will call them next.
THE NATIONAL SYNOD
OF WALES
Saintwell United Reformed Church
In 1889 the Saintwell/Ely
district of Cardiff was relatively sparsely populated but a small group of
people began meeting in each other’s homes and then in a small purpose built
wooden building opened as a Mission station, being formally recognised as a
Congregational Church in 1892. A more permanent church was built and opened on
12th December 1907. The first service was conducted by Revd Justin Evans.
Worship continued regularly until 1969 when the church was demolished to make
way for the new roadworks in Ely. The congregation then took over its present
premises – the former Presbyterian Church in Heol Trelai (built in1962) and the
first service was held on Wednesday 30th April 1969.
Despite being in the
centre of a large housing estate, numbers of members dwindled to less than 10
and in May 2005 the remaining members voted to close the church for Sunday
worship.
A service of thanksgiving
was held on October 2nd 2005 when former ministers – Revd Dr Tom Arthur, Revd Dr
Peter Crutchley-Jones, Revd Daffyd Jones and Revd John Joseph spoke of their
ministries in Saintwell.
Zion United Reformed Church, Newbridge
The cause at Zion was
begun in 1884 as a
Congregational chapel that served the needs of both English
and Welsh speaking worshippers. This continued for twenty years when the Welsh
speaking congregation, with the support of the English speaking one, formed a
separate worshipping community at Zoar.
Zion continued to
flourish, particularly under the 26 year ministry of Revd Edward Vaughn.
If the fifties and
sixties it was well known both for its music tradition with a succession of fine
organists and for maintaining the tradition of liberal nonconformist theology.
However, in latter years
a declining and elderly membership has meant that it has not proved possible to
find people to take on the responsibility of local leadership and so the church
decided to close.
The closing service was
held on January 16th 2006.
Alpha United Reformed Church, Greenfield
Alpha was the first
church founded in Greenfield – hence its name. The congregation first gathered
in 1814 and the first church building was constructed in 1834. In 1895 land to
the rear of the church was purchased and an enlarged church was planned and
opened in 1907. Alpha was seen as very much the parish church of the community,
even after the later building of an Anglican church opposite Alpha. Alpha
entered the United Reformed Church in 1972 and for a time was grouped with two
other congregations and two Presbyterian Church of Wales congregations. The
active congregation, however, became smaller and more elderly. Following the
death of the secretary and treasurer, and with the need for extensive and costly
repairs the church meeting decided to close. A service of thanksgiving was held
on Sunday 13th November 2005. During its life and mission the fellowship at
Alpha touched many, many lives and we give thanks for its witness.
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