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Glastonbury United Reformed Church, originally the Congregational Church, has been a part of Glastonbury’s community for nearly 400 years. Founded in November 1662, we were Glastonbury’s first Non-Conformist Christian congregation.
The Act of Uniformity (May 1662) required all Church of England congregations to worship in a uniform way. Passed during the Restoration under Charles II, it required strict adherence to the revised Book of Common Prayer. Two thousand clergymen nationwide refused to take the oath and were expelled from the Anglican church.
Some local Christians likewise refused to accept the act and left the mainstream church. In November 1662, Glastonbury’s first “Independent” church was founded. Non-Conformists started meeting for worship in an upstairs room at the Ship Inn, a pub on our present site.
Glastonbury’s “Independent” Christians eventually took over the Ship Inn and replaced it with our beautiful current building in 1814 – thanks to a donation of £500 by a wealthy local builder. In 1898 a Bristol tobacconist H. O. Wills sponsored the construction of the stunning portico and the teaching rooms at the back.
The Glastonbury “Independent” church became one of the Congregational Churches. (Congregationalism is a worldwide Protestant movement where every church congregation independently and autonomously manages its own affairs.)
In 1972, British Congregational and Presbyterian Churches joined together nationwide, to become the United Reformed Church (URC) as we know it today.
Some of our members who grew up in our Church, went to Sunday School at the back or were married here, will be able to tell you stories about our “the olden days”. Just ask!
We continue to explore, learn and worship in our Non-Conformist tradition…
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