Warden Hill URC

Much planning and discussion in connection with the proposed Local Ecumenical Partnership has taken place during recent months at the two churches at Warden Hill. The Inaugural Service finally took place on 16 January attended by a large congregation.

After a welcome and call to worship given by Revd Maz Allen, details of the background to the LEP were explained by Reg Hitchins and Brian Miles in turn. Prayers, reading and a hymn followed, then Revd Roy Lowes, Moderator of West Midlands Synod, took over with a sermon expressing his belief that linking the two churches together would form a more powerful alliance able to achieve more than the two churches separately. He compared them with two separate boats which had become a catamaran.

The Rt Revd John Went, Bishop of Tewkesbury, led the Profession of Faith and this was followed by the signing of the Declaration of Intent to a background of music from the choir. The signatories were, Revd John Went, Revd Roy Lowe, Revd Paul Wilkinson Team Rector, Revd Ian Bussell, Revd Dr Alison Evans Ecumenical Officer, Revd Maz Allen, Reg Hitchins, Pauline White, Brian Miles and Carole Pennington.

The smart new banner of the Church in Warden Hill was then brought forward for dedication. Further prayers and hymns came next and the service ended with a Blessing given by the Bishop.

The congregation were invited to process after the Choir and Clergy to the URC for a welcome afternoon tea. Among the congregation were invited guests, Mayor Lloyd Surgenor and his wife, as well as some former ministers and other supporters and everyone enjoyed meeting these old friends again.

More Photos of the Event

Brian Miles and Reg Hitchings told the story of how the two churches came were founded and grew together:-

During the early 1960’s - William Pye from Oxford built the estate which we now call ‘Warden Hill’ and gave land for the building of two churches.

The United Reformed Church, originally Warden Hill Congregational Church was founded as a daughter church of the Highbury Congregational church, and a dual-purpose hall was built which included kitchen and toilet facilities and a small hall. This sufficed for about 10 years when it was necessary to expand to allow for the large number of children on the Sunday school books. It was decided to build a dedicated church behind the halls and that was opened in 1970 at a cost of about £4,000.

In 1991 the three Cheltenham United Reformed Churches – St. Andrew’s, Prestbury and Warden Hill - joined together to form The United Reformed Church in Cheltenham under the joint ministry of Revd. Joan Winterbottom and Revd. Glyn Jenkins.

The land allocated for the Anglican Congregation was designated for an ornate church similar in design and proportions to the mother church ‘St Philip and St James Leckhampton, but a more multifunction building designed as a Church Hall was soon to occupy the site, there was a roller shutter here to separate the sanctuary from the hall, I understand they even played indoor football after choir practice! In 1975, again with an expanding congregation two hall were added to the site giving the community modern facilities with kitchen facilities. This section became a dedicated church. For the millennium and the churches 40^th birthday plans were put in place to make it look more like a ‘Church’ and the frontage was remodelled, together with the Entrance hall area and a Spire was added. The Building was consecrated as a Church by the Bishop on 15th July 2000. The church achieved Parish Church status on the 1^st January this year with the formation of the Benefice of South Cheltenham Churches.

For many years there had been little communication between the two churches even though both drew the majority of their congregations from the estate, whilst many other churches in the greater Cheltenham area became centres for their specific brand of churchmanship.

In the early years of the 21^st Century more communication started and led by the respective ministers the idea that some sharing might be possible with those ‘across the road’! A working party, to become known as ‘The Partners’ was formed, to discuss what could be done, social opportunities, fund raising and local awareness.

Since January 2006 much more coming together became evident with a formal engagement between the two Churches, with a ‘Declaration of Intent’, for an initial period of 2 years. Service times were harmonised and there were two joint services every month. Many social occasions were clearly Warden Hill churches rather than us and them!

During 2007 there were a number of open meetings within each church and eventually a survey, distributed to all regular members and with a very high return (83%), and an almost unanimous decision to continue with the development of the LEP. At the end of 2007 we extended our engagement for a further 12 months and the Partners set off to get the full LEP in place for early 2010. All morning services are combined, rotating between buildings, sometimes with alternative liturgies.

An Ecumenical Church Council has been working since November, preparing to support the Church during its formative period. The first full council will be elected in April, by which time we hope to have our sharing agreements in place.

We will continue to support our relationships with our parent bodies.

Although this is the formal start of our life together we still have a long way to go and many opportunities to resolve, not least, to be a Community church for all of the people in Warden Hill!