The United Reformed Church

The United Reformed Church

FORMERLY THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

One of the busiest religious buildings in Bourne is the United Reformed Church that is used for a variety of community activities as well as services. The first signs of congregationalism appeared in the town during the mid 19th century and the United Reformed Church opened in Eastgate in 1846, constructed from the distinctive red brick that was used for many buildings in the town during that period.

There was a rapid growth in the size of the congregation that reached 400 within three years. A Sunday school was started in 1849 and for a long time its meetings were held in private houses yet by 1874 there were 235 children on the roll with 18 voluntary teachers. The popularity was such that a permanent Sunday school building was erected towards the end of the century on land adjoining the church at a cost of £1,000, the architect being Mr F G Shilcock of Bourne and the contractor Mr Thomas Hinson, also of Bourne. The new building consisted of a large central hall, 60 feet by 33 feet, with 12 flanking classrooms opening into it.

The memorial stone laying was held on Thursday 10th August 1899 when the need for the new premises was stressed by the pastor, the Rev T H Parker. "For many years", he said, "the enlargement of the school has been a matter of deep concern to officers and teachers as 300 scholars have to be accommodated in a space designed for a third of that number. For the past 15 years, the work of collecting contributions has been perseveringly continued and now over £400 of the amount required has been secured." Memorial stones were laid by Alderman William Wherry, Messrs Thomas Mays, George Mays, Edward Andrew and John Wall, and afterwards, over 200 people sat down to a public tea in a large tent on the Abbey Lawn. In the evening, a public meeting was held in the tent when addresses were given by several visiting ministers. Collections during the day in aid of the project amounted to £106 including several handsome donations.

The building was officially opened on Wednesday 17th January 1900 when the pastor, the Rev T H Parker, presided at the ceremony and Alderman George White of Norwich [later Sir George White], an eminent old scholar and teacher at the Sunday School, gave a dedication address. The leading non-conformists of the town and district attended including the Rev A Eason (Sleaford), the Rev C R Gardner (Stamford), the Rev James Carvath (Bourne Baptists) and the Rev H Brown (Bourne Wesleyans) and Alderman William Wherry. The meeting was told that £500 had already been raised towards the cost of the building and the opening ceremony brought in another £150 in donations.

This is the interior of the church as it was prior to the major alterations that were completed during 1911.

Soon afterwards, in 1911, the church was altered and renovated and the re-opening ceremony was performed with a silver key by Sir George White, who had become M P for North West Norfolk, and was a former president of the Free Church Council.

The extensive alterations to the church that took place in 1911 (left) included a complete re-organisation of the seating arrangements, the presentation of a communion table and chair and two stained glass memorial windows, extensions to the gallery and the installation of the present pulpit and organ that remain in use today although an electric blower was installed in 1934 and replaced in 1991. The organist and choirmaster, Mr T W Bradley, who was appointed in 1936 to succeed Mr Ashby Swift, is pictured in 1946 seated at his usual place before the console (right). He died in 1989.

Old minute books containing records of meetings give an insight into the growth and activities of the church and it is obvious that membership was regarded far more seriously in earlier times. In 1868, a member was expelled for creating a disturbance in a polling booth and a little later, a resolution was passed saying that any member who missed three consecutive sacrament services without good reason should be interviewed and given one more chance. If they still failed to attend, then their name would "regretfully be struck from the Church Roll".

When the church celebrated its centenary in 1946, the secretary Mr W H Hemsell, said:

We speak, and probably think too much of the church as a building but the real church consists of its members, and the record of its achievements which really matter are contained in the church roll of members. We are proud that today, the number of members is the highest ever recorded since those faithful six founders banded together in 1846. Today, we have 130 names on the roll and the number of those who have been welcomed into the fellowship of this church since the first communion service on 20th October 1846 is no fewer than 491. Through varied experiences of spiritual death and prosperity, the church and Sunday School have unfailingly borne their witness for a century and the faithfulness and sacrifice of those who have gone before should encourage us to a deeper devotion with renewed hope and courage to face the tasks that still await us.

IN THE BEGINNING

The following six people formed themselves into a church of the order called Independents on 20th October 1846:

John Presgrave, Elizabeth Presgrave, Eleanor Presgrave, Robert Howe, Mary Howe and William Ward.

The Rev J Islip of the Star Lane Church at Stamford administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and Mr F Pinney of Stamford, "who ministers to us in the Word and Doctrine, communed with us". At the first church meeting held on 19th November 1846, it was resolved that: "Mr Pinney be requested to continue on the same terms as formerly agreed upon." At the same meeting, Mr Todd was elected leader of the singing and Mr John Presgrave was elected deacon and secretary (then called clerk).

Mr Pinney carried on the work of the Pastorate, assisted by various ministers from Peterborough, while the Rev J Islip exercised oversight over the church. In 1849, Mr Anderson from Castle Bytham joined Mr Pinney as co-pastor, each receiving a remuneration for their services the sum of £18 per annum. In 1850, Mr Anderson became sole pastor, receiving a stipend of £40 a year. The following were pastors of the church during the first 100 years of its existence from 1846 until the centenary celebrations in 1946:

1852-53 Rev J S Knight

1853-54 Rev W Roberston

1854-56 Rev R Lumsden

1857-68 Rev D Horsecraft

1869-73 Rev S Chisholm

1874-80 Rev Mark Lucas

1880-83 Rev J Hamilton

1883-90 Rev Eason

1890-1908 Rev T H Parker

1908-1919 Rev J C Jones

1920-25 Rev J A Halfpenny

1926-31 Rev P V Wickenden