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The United Reformed Church is a former
The United Reformed Church was founded in 1825 when the people of Chiswell, the oldest settlement on the island, banded together to convert a barn and stable into a place of worship. By 1827, Chiswell had to accommodate the growing congregation and as a result the first chapel was built during 1827–28. The church flourished under the guidance of the Rev JH Crump. The first pastor appointed to Portland was the Rev Frederick William Meadows. The next pastor, Rev C Cannon, died in office in 1854, whilst in those years the building had become too small for the growing congregation.
As the building was not large enough for the local congregation, a new church opened on the same site. Rev James Cheney, described in the church records as "a remarkable, resourceful and skilful man", was the guiding light for the building that stands in Chiswell today, which was opened by 21 October 1858. The church was first known as the Independent Chapel, as well as the Union Chapel, then the Congregational Church. It became known as the United Reformed Church in 1972.
However, by the 21st century, the numbers in the congregation had dramatically dropped. Seven local people decided to team together in an attempt to the keep the church open by dealing with administration and fund raising. Despite various attempts by the congregation to save it, the church's final service was held on 27 September 2009, conducted by the Rev Bob Damer. Although the building's future was uncertain, renovations have begun.
The United Reformed Church is a former United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church (URC) is a Protestant Christian church in the United Kingdom. As of 2022 it has approximately 40,000 members in 1,284 congregations with 334 stipendiary ministers.
Origins and history
The United Reformed Church resulte ...
in Chiswell
Chiswell , sometimes , is a small village at the southern end of Chesil Beach, in Underhill, on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. It is the oldest settlement on the island, having formerly been known as Chesilton. The small bay at Chiswell is ca ...
, on the Isle of Portland
An isle is an island, land surrounded by water. The term is very common in British English
British English (BrE, en-GB, or BE) is, according to Lexico, Oxford Dictionaries, "English language, English as used in Great Britain, as distinct fr ...
, Dorset
Dorset ( ; archaically: Dorsetshire , ) is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The ceremonial county comprises the unitary authority areas of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and Dorset. Covering an area of , ...
, England. It was founded in 1825 and closed in 2009.
History
The United Reformed Church was founded in 1825 when the people of Chiswell, the oldest settlement on the island, banded together to convert a barn and stable into a place of worship. By 1827, Chiswell had to accommodate the growing congregation and as a result the first chapel was built during 1827–28. The church flourished under the guidance of the Rev JH Crump. The first pastor appointed to Portland was the Rev Frederick William Meadows. The next pastor, Rev C Cannon, died in office in 1854, whilst in those years the building had become too small for the growing congregation.
As the building was not large enough for the local congregation, a new church opened on the same site. Rev James Cheney, described in the church records as "a remarkable, resourceful and skilful man", was the guiding light for the building that stands in Chiswell today, which was opened by 21 October 1858. The church was first known as the Independent Chapel, as well as the Union Chapel, then the Congregational Church. It became known as the United Reformed Church in 1972.
However, by the 21st century, the numbers in the congregation had dramatically dropped. Seven local people decided to team together in an attempt to the keep the church open by dealing with administration and fund raising. Despite various attempts by the congregation to save it, the church's final service was held on 27 September 2009, conducted by the Rev Bob Damer. Although the building's future was uncertain, renovations have begun.
References
{{Isle of Portland Isle of Portland Churches in Dorset 1825 establishments in England Redundant churches Former churches in Dorset United Reformed churches in England