United Reformed Church, Stamford facts for kids
The United Reformed Church in Stamford, Lincolnshire, is a Christian church located on Star Lane. It used to be known as the Congregational Church. The building itself is quite old, built in the late Georgian period.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Why was a new church built?
The church you see today stands on land bought in 1719. This was because an earlier church building, from the late 1600s, was destroyed in 1714. A group called the Jacobites caused the damage. The new church, built in 1720, could hold 300 people.
How the church grew
This 1720 church was taken down in 1819 to make way for the bigger building we see now. For a long time, the entrance to Star Lane was very narrow. This meant you couldn't see the church very well from the south. This changed in 1923 when an old building was removed.
The Church Building Today
What does the church look like?
The current church was built quickly in 1819. It was made larger to show the church's growing importance. It cost £1,800 and could seat 800 people. The church is made of red brick, which is unusual in Stamford, a town mostly built with stone. It has a strong stone base and a slate roof.
Windows and inside details
All the windows have arches. The top windows still have their original Georgian glass. The lower windows were updated in the Victorian era. Inside, the church has a classic style. There's a balcony on three sides, held up by strong Doric columns. The ceiling is decorated with stucco, and there are old-fashioned box pews from the 1800s.
How to enter the church
You enter the church through a small yard to the right of the building. The entrance gate was added in 1862. It's made from parts of an old arcade that used to be in Broad Street, near Browne's Hospital.
The Church Now
What is the church called today?
The church's name changed in 1972. This happened when the Presbyterian Church of England joined with the Congregational Church in England and Wales. Now it is part of the United Reformed Church.
Important building status
The church building is a Grade II Listed Building. This means it's an important historical building that needs to be protected.
Services and community work
The Stamford church is part of the United Reformed Church's East Midlands Synod. The Minister, The Revd Jane Campbell, leads the services. They have services on Sunday mornings at 10:45 AM and evenings at 6:30 PM, along with other special services.
Stamford URC also helps the community. It's part of the Stamford Street Pastors group, which helps people on the streets. It's also part of the Stamford Churches Together group, which brings local churches together. The church also manages the nearby Congregation Hall in Broad Street.
