Downing Place United Reformed Church, Cambridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Downing PlaceUnited Reformed Church |
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Downing Place URC
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| Location | Central Cambridge |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | United Reformed Church |
| Website | https://downingplaceurc.org/ |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Emmanuel URC, Emmanuel Congregational Church, Emmanuel Congregational Chapel, Hog Hill Independent Church; St Columba's URC, St Columba's Presbyterian Church |
| Administration | |
| Synod | URC Eastern Synod |
Downing Place United Reformed Church is a church located in Cambridge, England. It is part of the United Reformed Church, a Christian church formed in 1972. This church was created in 2018 when two older churches, St Columba's Church and Emmanuel Church, joined together.
The church now uses the building that used to be St Columba's Church. This building is on Downing Place, which is very close to where Emmanuel's church members met before 1874. Before the two churches merged, they both offered Sunday worship services. They also hosted music concerts, a health group, and a night-time drop-in center for people needing help. The building has been updated to continue these kinds of activities.
Contents
History of the Church
Emmanuel Church's Journey
Emmanuel Church started as a congregational church. This means its members governed themselves. In 1972, it decided to join the new United Reformed Church. Over the years, Emmanuel Church had several names. It was first known as the 'Hog Hill Independent Church'. Later, it became the 'Emmanuel Congregational Chapel' or 'Emmanuel Congregational Church'.
The Emmanuel church group began in Cambridge in 1687. Their first building was on Hog Hill, which is now part of Downing Place. This spot is now home to the Old Music School. From 1691, Joseph Hussey was the minister. He was remembered in the stained-glass windows of the Emmanuel church building. Other important figures like John Greenwood, Henry Barrow, Oliver Cromwell, John Milton, and Francis Holcroft were also shown.
The church building was rebuilt on the same site and opened in 1790. It was called Emmanuel Congregational Chapel. In 1874, the church moved to a new building on Trumpington Street. This new building was designed by architect James Cubitt and opened in 1875. The old chapel was later used for science students at the University of Cambridge. The Trumpington Street building was listed as a Grade II historic building in 1996.
Before the merger, Emmanuel Church held regular Sunday services. They also had a fairtrade cafe run by volunteers. They hosted lunchtime music concerts and helped with a project for homeless people in Cambridge. A local group for LGBTQ+ people, the Cambridge branch of the Open Table Network, also started there in July 2018.
St Columba's Church's Story
St Columba's Church began as a Presbyterian church. A Presbyterian group first met in Cambridge in 1689. They were based on Green Street at that time. The St Columba's church group officially started in 1881. They first held their services in Cambridge Guildhall.
The St Columba's church building is on the corner of Downing Place and Downing Street. It was built in 1891. The design was by a Scottish architect named John Macvicar Anderson. St Columba's was part of the Presbyterian Church of England. From 1972, it became part of the United Reformed Church. It also served as the chaplaincy for the Church of Scotland at the University of Cambridge.
Before the merger, St Columba's offered regular Sunday worship. They also hosted a group therapy center. Like Emmanuel, they had a night-time drop-in center run by Cambridge Street Pastors.
The Merger: Downing Place United Reformed Church
On June 9, 2018, St Columba's Church and Emmanuel Church officially joined together. They formed the new Downing Place United Reformed Church. The combined church now meets in the building that used to be St Columba's. This building has been greatly improved as part of a large project.
The old Emmanuel building on Trumpington Street was sold to Pembroke College, Cambridge. The college plans to use it for lectures and performances. The last service in the Emmanuel building was on July 26, 2020. All church activities there have now stopped.
While the St Columba's building was being renovated, the church held its services at Westminster College, Cambridge. The newly restored building was officially reopened in November 2021.
Notable People Connected to the Churches
Many people have been part of these churches over the years. Michael Ramsey, who later became a very important church leader as Archbishop of York, attended Emmanuel Congregational church as a child. His father was a deacon there.
Two important figures in the worldwide church movement were missionaries from St Columba's Church. William Paton went to India in 1919. He became the first general secretary of what is now the National Council of Churches in India. Lesslie Newbigin also went to India in 1936. He became one of the first bishops of the new Church of South India in 1947.
Agnes Smith Lewis and Margaret Dunlop Gibson, who were famous Bible scholars, also attended St Columba's. They are remembered with a special plaque.
