History of United Reformed Church
Linden Road Bognor Regis (Closed 18th July 2010)
URC Linden Road
In 1813 a small group of Congregationalists (Independents, ruling their own church) broke away from the Congregational Church in Chichester and with the support of its minister Rev. John Hunt, formed a separate church in Bognor. They began to worship in the home of Thomas Goldring in South Bersted and did so for two years. Then they built a Meeting House in Chichester Road. This chapel still required a license to worship under the Toleration Act by the Bishop of Chichester and was registered by John Hunt. Their first meeting on 14th December 1815 was celebrated with sermons from Rev. Dr. David Bogue of Gosport Academy, one of the founders of the London Missionary Society, and Dr. John Styles of Brighton.
In 1826, they moved into Bognor forming a group of eleven Trustees who acquired land from the Rev. Matthew Wilkes of Shoredirch for just 10/-. The Rev Wilkes was also a founder member of the London Missionary Society and British & Foreign Bible Society. The land was at the end of Dorset Gardens (later London Road) which was then a cul-de-sac. There they built the Hanover Chapel, named after the Royal House, and seating 200, at a cost of £300. The first full-time minister was the Rev. John Thornton.
In 1866 when the church was said to be 'at a low ebb' and with the support of the Sussex Home Missionary Society and their own minister, Rev. W.H.Drewett, newly appointed, they acquired a field at the corner of High Street and London Road, and there built a new church for 300 persons. As there was not enough room for a Sunday School, the old chapel was used for that purpose and as a Lecture Hall. But that was sold in 1897 when the Trustees acquired land behind the east front shops in London Road and built a Sunday School and Institute. Later, this building became the County Public Library for 28 years.
1930 saw yet another move, this time to Linden Road. The High Street church came under pressure from commercialisation as the town centre developed with shops. The new church having the space had the advantage of bringing the Sunday School under the same roof. This building consisted originally of the church, vestries, choir vestry, hall and school room, with later additions of kitchen, additional community room and above, a self-contained flat.
In 1972, the Congregational Church throughout the country joined with the English Presbyterians to form the United Reformed Church as it is still known today. Thus for 196 years the Church has provided Sunday services and a spiritual home for its congregation and in the present building a venue for some fifteen to twenty local groups and societies in the Bognor community. During those years some twenty five resident ministers have served a thriving congregation. However in the latter years, scarcity of young families and children attending church led to the demise of the Sunday school. Regrettably this was the general trend throughout the country and despite the best efforts of the Minister and church members the challenge of attracting young people to join the church had little success. Sunday services and weekday meetings were still held every week as they had been since the beginning in 1813 but with a diminishing and ageing congregation.
Notwithstanding the fact that income from generous offerings and rents from room lettings were unable to keep up with the cost of maintenance of the large eighty year old building, there was also a shortage of suitable personnel to take on the various offices that needed to be filled to keep the church viable and fit for purpose. The decision, at a Special Church Meeting, to close the Church on 18th July 2010 was not taken lightly. Much sadness was shared by all but there was also considerable comfort in knowing that it was God’s will, and that their URC sister church in Pagham had extended a warm welcome to the Linden Road congregation to join their church and worship with them.
The above account, previously written by Michael Gowler, provides a brief background relating to the URC Church at Linden Road, and to a limited extent, records the trials and tribulations that were encountered along the way. The three excellent more complete histories which gather together the Linden Road URC Church’s past are well worth reading:
In 1826, they moved into Bognor forming a group of eleven Trustees who acquired land from the Rev. Matthew Wilkes of Shoredirch for just 10/-. The Rev Wilkes was also a founder member of the London Missionary Society and British & Foreign Bible Society. The land was at the end of Dorset Gardens (later London Road) which was then a cul-de-sac. There they built the Hanover Chapel, named after the Royal House, and seating 200, at a cost of £300. The first full-time minister was the Rev. John Thornton.
In 1866 when the church was said to be 'at a low ebb' and with the support of the Sussex Home Missionary Society and their own minister, Rev. W.H.Drewett, newly appointed, they acquired a field at the corner of High Street and London Road, and there built a new church for 300 persons. As there was not enough room for a Sunday School, the old chapel was used for that purpose and as a Lecture Hall. But that was sold in 1897 when the Trustees acquired land behind the east front shops in London Road and built a Sunday School and Institute. Later, this building became the County Public Library for 28 years.
1930 saw yet another move, this time to Linden Road. The High Street church came under pressure from commercialisation as the town centre developed with shops. The new church having the space had the advantage of bringing the Sunday School under the same roof. This building consisted originally of the church, vestries, choir vestry, hall and school room, with later additions of kitchen, additional community room and above, a self-contained flat.
In 1972, the Congregational Church throughout the country joined with the English Presbyterians to form the United Reformed Church as it is still known today. Thus for 196 years the Church has provided Sunday services and a spiritual home for its congregation and in the present building a venue for some fifteen to twenty local groups and societies in the Bognor community. During those years some twenty five resident ministers have served a thriving congregation. However in the latter years, scarcity of young families and children attending church led to the demise of the Sunday school. Regrettably this was the general trend throughout the country and despite the best efforts of the Minister and church members the challenge of attracting young people to join the church had little success. Sunday services and weekday meetings were still held every week as they had been since the beginning in 1813 but with a diminishing and ageing congregation.
Notwithstanding the fact that income from generous offerings and rents from room lettings were unable to keep up with the cost of maintenance of the large eighty year old building, there was also a shortage of suitable personnel to take on the various offices that needed to be filled to keep the church viable and fit for purpose. The decision, at a Special Church Meeting, to close the Church on 18th July 2010 was not taken lightly. Much sadness was shared by all but there was also considerable comfort in knowing that it was God’s will, and that their URC sister church in Pagham had extended a warm welcome to the Linden Road congregation to join their church and worship with them.
The above account, previously written by Michael Gowler, provides a brief background relating to the URC Church at Linden Road, and to a limited extent, records the trials and tribulations that were encountered along the way. The three excellent more complete histories which gather together the Linden Road URC Church’s past are well worth reading:
- The first book is named Historical Review of Bognor Regis Congregational Church - Triple Jubilee (1813 - 1963) written and compiled by the Reverend Clifford Spencer Davis.
- The second book written by Frances Hodgess Roper (widow of an URC minister and mother of another (Geoffrey Roper, Associate General Secretary, Free Churches, Churches Together in England) also begins the research period in 1813 but includes a further seventeen years up to 1980.
- The third records the twenty years from l980 – 2000, written by Michael Gowler.