Avenue St Andrew's United Reformed Church facts for kids
Avenue St. Andrew's is a special church in Southampton, England. It is part of the United Reformed Church. Some parts of the church building are very old and important. They are officially protected as a "Grade II listed" building. This means they have historical value and are worth preserving.
Contents
A Long History
The church we know today as Avenue St. Andrew's has a long and interesting past. It actually came from three different churches joining together over time.
Starting as Above Bar Church
Early Days and Growth
The story of this church began way back in 1662. It was first known as the Above Bar Congregational Church. The very first minister was a man named Rev. Nathaniel Robinson. An interesting fact is that the father of Isaac Watts was a leader here. Isaac Watts was a famous person who wrote many hymns.
Over the years, more and more people joined the church. The original building became too small. So, a new building was put up in 1727. Later, in 1819, that building was also taken down. An even bigger church was built in its place. This new building cost almost £6,000, which was a lot of money back then! It opened on April 20, 1820.
An Important Church
In the 1800s, this church was very important in Southampton. It was one of the main "Non-Conformist" churches. This means it was a Christian church that was not part of the official Church of England. For a long time, it was called Above Bar Independent Chapel. Later, it became Above Bar Congregational Chapel. It was even the oldest church in the Congregational Union. A pastor named Rev. Thomas Adkins led the church for a very long time, from 1810 to 1868.
War and Change
Sadly, during World War II, the church building was destroyed. This happened on November 30, 1940, because of bombing by the German air force, called the Luftwaffe. After this, many people from the church started going to a nearby church. This other church was called St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. The minister of Above Bar Church, Rev. Maxwell Jones, also moved there.
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Joins In
How St. Andrew's Began
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church started in 1853. It was located on the corner of Brunswick Place and Dorset Street. By the 1970s, fewer people were attending this church. Many of the homes around it had been taken down.
Coming Together
In the early 1980s, a study showed that the St. Andrew's building needed a lot of money for repairs. It would cost about £150,000 to keep it safe. So, the church leaders decided to join with the nearby Avenue Church. Both churches had become part of the United Reformed Church in 1972. This happened when the Presbyterian Church of England and many churches from the Congregational Union merged. After the merger, the old St. Andrew's buildings were taken down. New offices were built there instead.
The Avenue Church Opens
A New Beginning
The Avenue Congregational Church first opened its doors on December 7, 1898. After the decision was made to combine the St. Andrew's and Avenue congregations, the church became known by its current name: Avenue St. Andrew's.
