History of the church

The church was founded in 1868 as Caterham Congregational Church. The building was consecrated in 1875 and reconsecrated in 1951 after extensive rebuilding following war-time damage. A new concourse was added and the Harestone Hall and meeting rooms completely refurbished in 1999, to be a centre for community. Many local organisations hold their meetings on the premises, one wing of which is in use as a counselling suite.

We became a United Reformed Church in 1972 when the Congregational Church in England and Wales united with the Presbyterian Church. In 1981 the Churches of Christ were added to our number. The Congregational Union of Scotland joined the United Reformed Church in April 2000.

The United Reformed Church remains a small denomination in the United Kingdom but our membership of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches unites us to a large and world-wide fellowship of churches within the Protestant tradition.

In the United Reformed Church each local church arranges its worship programme and its witness and service to the local community. We observe the gospel sacraments of baptism and holy communion and submit ourselves to the Bible as the highest authority for our faith and action.

We hold a regular church meeting of members and an elected body of elders shares the pastoral and spiritual leadership of the congregation with the minister.

The United Reformed Church is committed to pray and work for the unity of the Church. We are a member of Caterham and District Churches Together and work in close co-operation with all local churches.