Colchester New Church facts for kids
Colchester New Church is a Christian church located in Colchester, England. It is part of a larger group called the General Church of the New Jerusalem. This church bases its beliefs on the Old and New Testament parts of the Bible. It also follows the special writings of a person named Emanuel Swedenborg.
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The Start of Colchester New Church
The story of Colchester New Church began on July 26, 1816. On that day, a minister named Rev. Robert Hindmarsh gave a public talk in Colchester. After his talk, a small group of people became interested. They decided to form their own group.
This new group started by renting different rooms in town. They used these rooms for their worship services and discussions. In 1853, records show that Colchester New Church had 11 members. They were renting a chapel in St. Helen's Lane. A person named U. W. Mattacks was their leader at that time.
Finding a New Path
The church's history becomes a bit unclear for a while after 1853. But in 1880, a man named George McQueen found the writings of Swedenborg. In June 1880, Mr. McQueen read a book about Swedenborg. This book quoted from Swedenborg's own writings.
On his 20th birthday, September 12, 1880, George McQueen walked ten miles. He walked all the way to Brightlingsea to attend a New Church service. His friend, "Eb" Finch, walked with him.
In 1881, another minister, Rev. J. Deans, started giving talks in Colchester. This led to a new group forming. Their first official worship service was held on April 16, 1881. In June of that year, they rented a room called Shaftsbury Hall. Mr. William Gill joined the group soon after it started. He became one of their lay preachers, meaning he could lead services. Two members of the group even gave money to help build a church. However, it took 42 years for that building to actually be built.
A Shift in Beliefs
In 1885, Rev. C. Griffiths became the pastor in Brightlingsea. Colchester then asked him to be their honorary pastor. At this time, the Colchester New Church was still part of the General Conference of the New Church.
However, in 1885, the Colchester group started reading sermons from a magazine called New Church Life. This magazine was published by the General Church of the New Jerusalem. This might have been the start of their interest in the special ideas of the General Church.
Joining the General Church
By 1890, Rev. C. Griffiths left the Colchester group. He disagreed with their strong support for the General Church of the New Jerusalem. On July 6, Rev. William Frederic Pendleton from the General Church gave a sermon. The members in Colchester really liked his sermon. On the same day, Mr. McQueen became a member of the General Church Academy.
The next year, on March 27, 1891, Colchester New Church officially left the Conference. They became a part of the General Church of the New Jerusalem. In 1905, William Frederic Pendleton, who was now a bishop, visited Colchester. He talked about opening a school there. But they decided it wasn't the right time yet.
Building a Home for the Church
In 1924, the church building was finally built. It was located at 175 Maldon Road. Around the same time, Rev. Gyllenhaal became the pastor of the church. In 1926, a day school was started at the church. It was led by Muriel Gill.
In 1967, under the leadership of Rev. Frank Rose, the church building was made bigger. The main worship area was extended by two meters. A new school room and a new entrance porch were also added. Geoff P. Dawson was the architect who designed these new parts. The new school room was planned to be officially opened on December 10, 1966. But the building work finished in mid-January 1967. Bishop Willard Dandridge Pendleton officially opened it on April 15, 1967.
= A New Chapter for the Church =
In 2024, the church held a special celebration. They marked 100 years since the first stone was laid for the original church building on Maldon Road. That happened on May 22, 1924.
After more than 100 years, the Colchester New Church held its final worship service. This took place in January 2025. The church building was then sold.
