ld oct nov 22

This year the United
Reformed Church is
celebrating 350 years of
Christian witness in
Lymington. The
Independent church was
first established in 1672 by
local Dissenters and
meetings took place at
what is now 30/31 St
Thomas’ Street where a
blue plaque can be seen.
In the 1820s the church joined the
Congregational Union of England and Wales.
As more people began to prefer this simpler
way of worship than that of the established
church, larger premises were needed, and by
October 1846 the present Church and
attached hall on the High Street were
completed at a cost of £3,004 15s 11p, so this
year is its 175 year anniversary.
Two village stations were built, one at East
End and one at Pilley, but sadly due to falling
congregations both buildings were sold at the
turn of this century.
During the Second World War the hall was
requisitioned for accommodation of evacuees
from other towns, and later, after black out
curtains had been fitted to all windows the
YMCA used part of the hall as a canteen for
troops. It was agreed to remove the forecourt
railings to help the war effort and to stop the
“talk in the town”!
In 1972 the Congregational Union agreed to
join with the English Presbyterian Church and
so the United Reformed Church was born 50
years ago, the third cause for celebration in
2022.
The Church continues to flourish, guided by its
mission statement: “Our vision is to be a
church with an Open Door for all people to
come in and for us to reach out, responding to
the needs of the community and spreading
the Good News of Jesus Christ.”
Please come to help us celebrate this
special anniversary at our
Sunday service
at 10am,30 th October,
followed by coffee and cake in the hall
and an opportunity to see our history.
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