Edward Street United Reformed Church
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History

The New Front Door

Worship area

 

Main Hall

 

 

 

 

This Church was founded as a Congregational Church in 1852. On October 5th 1972 it became part of th United Reformed Church as a result of the Union of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England.

In May 1852 ground was purchased and a temporary building of wood, known as the Tabernacle, was erected on the site in Edward Street. This building was opened for worship by the Rev. James Massie, Secretary of the Home Missionary Society on July 11th 1852, and on then on the following Sunday, the Rev. Henry Perfect, also of the Home Missionary Society, preached.

In August the Church was formed, consisting of twenty people. The Lord’s Supper (Communion) was celebrated for the first time on August 12th, when the Rev. P Harris of St Albans presided. The Rev. Henry Perfect continued his ministry until January 9th 1853.

A little over a year later it was decided that a more permanent structure was needed, and the foundation stone was laid on August 9th 1853, and the new building opened for worship on January 12th 1854. The Rev. George Smith of Poplar, London and the Rev. Thomas Stockwell were the preachers on that occasion. This building had to be demolished as it was declared unsafe in July 1972.  The site of the demolished church building was eventually sold to the United Reformed Church Housing Association which built the present block of eight flats for the elderly. The name of the complex is Osborn House, which honours the man who was the prime mover behind the building of the Church on that site. He was also Mayor of Dunstable at one time. A minute of a meeting held on April 30th, the day after the death of Mr Joseph Osborn, refers to his as “the chief originator of the cause, it’s oldest member and the principal Deacon”.

The present congregation worships in what was the schoolroom, which was built as a result of a decision in March 1865. The hall was known for many years as the Osborn Hall. The original layout was adapted in 1974 when a dedicated worship area was created at the front of the hall, which can accommodate at least fifty people.  Further work was undertaken in 1988 when a new heating systems and a Loop system were installed. During this period the congregation worshipped in a hall in the Methodist Church in The Square.

Ministry

The current Minister is the Revd. Heather Whyte

Revd Heather Whyte

The ministers who are known to have served the Church are listed below:-

1852-53  Rev. H Perfect

1854-56   ”      Jas. Lyon

1857-64   ”      S. E. Dodge

1864-69   ”     Jas. Dixon

1871-82    ”     Wm. Blackwell

1882-88   ”     E. G. King

1888-92   ”     J. Kitto Baker

1893-1901 ”   C. A. Eastwood

1902-08   ”    M. J. French

1909-13   ”     H. Merchant

1914-19    ”     C. A. Eastwood

1920-25   ”     T. J. Smith

1926-30   ”     F. J. Mortimer

1931-34    ”     G. H. Clothier

1938-42   ”     A. Morrison

1949-54   ”     C. R. Bruford

1956-60   ”     G. Hooper

1962-93   ”     Bevan Bird

2001-16   ”     Sue J. Chapman (Luton & Dunstable Team)

2006-09   ”    John W. Steele (Luton & Dunstable Team)

2017 to Present Rev Heather Whyte (Heartland Group; Luton & Dunstable Cluster)

 

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