Congleton United Reformed Church
| Congleton United Reformed Church | |
|---|---|
 United Reformed Church, Antrobus Street, Congleton | |
  Congleton United Reformed Church Location in Cheshire | |
| 53°09′52″N 2°13′02″W / 53.1645°N 2.2171°W | |
| SJ 856 631 | |
| Location | Antrobus Street, Congleton, Cheshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | United Reformed Church |
| Architecture | |
Functional status | Closed |
Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 4 April 1975 |
| Architect | William Sugden |
Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1876 |
| Completed | 1877 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, slate roof |
Congleton United Reformed Church was a church in Antrobus Street, Congleton, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.[1]
History
The building originated as a Congregational church. It was designed by William Sugden, an architect from Leek, and built in 1876–77.[2]
Architecture
Constructed in stone, the church has a slate roof. Its architectural style is Gothic Revival. The entrance front has a double portal, each doorway having a pointed arch. At the northeast is a squat octagonal turret.[1] There is a large west window. On the gable above it is a large tabernacle surmounted by a ball finial with a long stalk. The authors of the Buildings of England series state that the church exhibits "astonishingly free handling of the Gothic precedents", and that "everything is richly and individually treated".[2] Inside the church is a gallery at the east end.[1] The three-manual organ was made by J. J. Binns for Claremont Baptist Church, Bolton. It was moved here and rebuilt in 1984 by Leonard Reeves.[3]
Closure
It was announced in April 2025 that the church would close, being too large for the congregation to maintain. The Rev. Murray George said that the decision had been made very reluctantly at the end of March, following a long period of deliberation.[4]
In July 2025 it was announced that the church would close in September, with the building being sold at auction on 27 August.[5] The auction date was later delayed, with a new planned auction date of 24 September.[6]
The church closed in September 2025.[7]
The Church was sold at auction for £200,000 in September 2025.[8]
The Church was sold at auction for a second time in on 28 April 2026.[9]
Future
In May 2026 FST Property announced plans to convert the former church into a wedding and events venue, the planned new venue is planned to be called "Wolstenholme Hall".[7]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Historic England, "Congregational Church, Congleton (1130487)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 26 February 2012
- 1 2 Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Hubbard, Edward; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011) [1971], Cheshire, The Buildings of England, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, p. 299, ISBN 978-0-300-17043-6
- ↑ Cheshire, Congleton, United Reformed Church (D07552), British Institute of Organ Studies, retrieved 26 February 2012
- ↑ "Congleton church to be sold after almost 150 years of worship". BBC News. 17 April 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
- ↑ "United Reformed Church is being sold at auction". Congleton Chronicle. 31 July 2025. p. Front Page.
- ↑ "Going, going, God … church goes to auction". Congleton Chronicle. 18 September 2025. p. 10.
- 1 2 "'Unique' venue plan for former church". Congleton Chronicle. 7 May 2026. p. 22.
- ↑ "Congleton United Reform Church, Antrobus Street, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1HE". Pugh Auctions. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ↑ "Congleton United Reformed Church, Antrobus Street, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1HE". Pugh Auctions. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
