United Reformed Church, Street

United Reformed Church
Religion
AffiliationUnited Reformed Church
Location
LocationStreet, Somerset, England
Geographic coordinates51°07′32″N 2°44′33″W / 51.1256°N 2.7424°W / 51.1256; -2.7424
Architecture
Architect(s)Samuel Pollard
TypeChurch
Completed1855

The United Reformed Church (originally known as the Congregational Chapel) is a United Reformed Church in Street, Somerset, England. It was designed by Samuel Pollard and built in 1854–55.

History

Independent worship began in Street in 1798, when part of a house was briefly used as a place of worship.[1] A new following was formed in 1852, with Sunday services held at the Temperance Hall, often by ministers from Taunton and Bristol. Street's congregation officially formed as a church on 3 September 1853. As the Temperance Hall quickly became too small to hold the growing congregation, fundraising began for a purpose-built chapel. A plot of land was donated by Messrs C. & J. Clark and plans for a chapel capable of seating 400 people were drawn up by Samuel Pollard of Taunton.[2]

Mr. Samuel Petvin of Street was hired as the builder and the foundation stone was laid by Mr. Thomas Simpson of Manchester on 8 August 1854.[3] The chapel, which cost approximately £500 to build, opened for Divine service on 29 May 1855. A sermon was preached by Rev. H. Addiscott of Taunton in the morning and Rev. H. Quick of Taunton preached in the evening. By the time of its opening, approximately £120 of its cost was left to raised.[2]

A schoolroom was added in 1866 and the chapel enlarged and provided with new seating in 1874.[1][4] The schoolroom was later rebuilt at a cost of £600, with opening services held on 1 March 1885.[5]

The church remains active as part of the Mid Somerset URC Group.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Parishes: Street | British History Online". British-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b "New Congregational chapel". The Wells Journal. 2 June 1855. Retrieved 12 January 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "New Independent chapel". The Wells Journal. 12 August 1854. Retrieved 12 January 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Street". The Central Somerset Gazette. 15 August 1874. Retrieved 12 January 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Congregational chapel. Opening of the new schoolrooms". The Central Somerset Gazette. 7 March 1885. Retrieved 12 January 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "The Mid Somerset Urc Group - Street Urc". Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2020.