In 1887 the Rev M E Parkin invited some of his friends from Rushden to his home in Yelvertoft to meet with Dr Paton from Nottingham College. Following that meeting Dr Paton found a large a room and sent a student Rev A C Smith to found the Congregational Church here. The first service was in May 1888 and on Jan 9th 1889 the Church was officially formed with nine members and a Sunday School was also begun. Two years later Mr Smith wrote to Mr Parkin & Dr Paton to tell them he was to resign and move to Welford. He was pleased to know that Rev M E Parkin would succeed him at Rushden.
The town was growing rapidly, thanks mainly to the growth in the shoe trade which was drawing people from around the country, and a new Church was proposed. Plans were drawn up by Mr E Sharman of Wellingborough and were offered for contract to Messrs E Brown & Son also of Wellingborough and a cost of £1830 was accepted. There was to be seating for 450 (and by folding back the doors of the old schoolroom it could accommodate more if needed) made in pitch-pine with a platform for the choir and a gallery over the entrance. Secretaries for the building fund were Samuel Powell & Frederick Hockney.
On Monday Nov 8th the memorial stones were laid by:
| Miss M Sharman (Wellingborough) |
Miss Tailby (Rushden) |
Miss E Colson (Sunday School – Rushden) |
| Mr F A Channing M.P. |
Mr Joseph Jeffrey (Northampton) |
Mr F G Adnitt (Northampton) |
A public tea for 400 was followed by a meeting in the Public Hall, and the opening service was in June 1894. The choir numbered 25 and the master was Mr T C Clarke with Mr Walter Sargent as organist.
Officers of the Church in the early years were:
| Stephen Higgins |
1889
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Thomas Hockney |
1894 (secretary) |
| George Parker |
1889
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Alfred E Rodhouse |
1894 (treasurer) |
| George Hall |
1891
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Frederick Hockney |
1894 (secretary) |
| Thomas Wilmott |
1893
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T C Clarke |
1894 (choir master) |
| Tom Swindall |
1893
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Walter Sargent |
1894 (organist) |
| Frederick Parker |
1893
|
George Hall |
1894 (Sunday School) |
| Thomas Spavins |
1893
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George Parker |
1894 (Sunday School) |
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Wright's Directory 1884
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| Union Church |
Harmonium - Miss A. Ward |
| (Congregational) |
Chapel Keeper - William Ambridge |
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Rev Matthew Edwin Parker died in 1906 and is buried in Rushden Cemetery, grave B.539.
The church closed in 1947 and the building was purchased by the Salvation Army.
The Argus, 13th December 1889, transcribed by Kay Collins
Notes of the Week
Congregational Church, Rushden
On Thursday and Friday, December 26th and 27th
A Sale of Work and Christmas Tree to be opened each day at Two o'clock. The stalls will include useful and ornamental articles, books, cards, &c., children's fancy work, refreshments. Thursday evening at Six, Mr. Powell will exhibit his magnificent lime-light apparatus, illustrating Paris exhibition and other views. There will also be a splendid menagerie, with animals from all parts of the kingdom. Buns for feeding the animals may be had at the refreshment stall, one penny each. Music will be provided each evening.
Admission by ticket: Thursday from 2 to 6, 6d., from 6 to close, 3d. Friday 3d. children 2d. Donations of goods or money may be sent to, and will be thankfully received by the Pastor any time previous to above date. Proceeds to be devoted to the building debt.
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Rushden Argus, Friday 4th April, 1890, transcribed by Kay Collins
Rushden Local Intelligence
Congregational Church -The Rev. Thomas Stephens, of Wellingborough, delivered a lecture at this place of worship on Wednesday evening, his subject being "Odds and ends". Tho Rev. A. 0. Smith introduced the lecturer, who in the course of his remarks, narrated many anecdotes of a humorous nature wherewith to illustrate his points, a few of which were to think well of everybody, to mind your own business — a common-place remark, said Mr. Stephens, but none too well observed. Things were not always what they seemed; some people, like peacocks, were outwadly very fine, yet in their conversation, disposition, and manners, were all that should be avoided. Don't quarrel, and be as cheerful as you can, for "cheer-up" was good theology, as well as good medicine. In the same racy manner the speaker advised young men to be self-reliant, and to have a back-bone of their own, and in reference to thoughtlessness Mr. Stephens related many absurdities through this failing. Gentle manliness, he described as self-respect—which would lift them above all meanness, and lead them to show respect for others. The lecture was most attentively listened to throughout, and at the close a collection was taken on behalf of church ex rinses. The meeting concluded with the doxology. |
Wellingborough News, 29th August 1890, transcribed by Kay Collins
CHOIR OUTING—On Thursday the choir and teachers connected with the Congregational Church journeyed to Castle Ashby for a day's outing. The party, numbering 36, arrived at Castle Ashby about midday, and spent a very pleasant holiday in inspecting the grounds, and were also shown round the house. Tea was partaken of on the lawn at the Falcon Inn, and the friends, who were accompanied by the Rev. A. C. and Mrs. Smith, reached Rushden soon after nine, having enjoyed a pleasant outing.
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The Argus, 27th January 1893
Local Intelligence
PLEASANT SUNDAY AFTERNOON—The Public Hall was again filled to its utmost capacity on Sunday afternoon, when one of the best programmes of the season was given as follows:— Hymn, No. 261, congregation; prayer, Mr. Parkin; duet, "God so loved the world", Messrs. M. Stringer and T. Tailby; solo, "Calvary", Mr. P. Sedgman; duet, "Say a kind word when you can" Miss Wilby and Miss Green ; hymn, No. 278, congregation; address, "A noble woman", Mr. Parkin; quartet, "Only a beam of sunshine", Miss Wilby, Miss Green, Messrs. Stringer and Tailby; duet, Misses K. and F. Ashby; solo, Miss F. Knight; hymn, No. 293, congregation.
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Extract from Council Meeting September 1899 - Plans - The Trustees of the Congregational Chapel for W.C. and Lavatory accommodation and passed subject to drainage and ventilation being provided to the satisfaction of the Surveyor.
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Rushden Echo & Argus, 12th October 1906, transcribed by Kay Collins
P.S.A. – Mr. W. L. Sargent presided over a large attendance in the Congreational Church on Sunday afternoon. Miss A. A. Pegler sang “The holy city” and “The promise of life” and Mrs. W. L. Sargent recited. The Rev. W. J. Gadsby, on the eve of his departure for Central America, gave an address, dealing with the life of Dr. Moffatt. Miss D. Corbett was the organist.
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The Rushden Echo Friday 30 March 1917, transcribed by Nicky Bates
Rushden Musician Killed Temperance Band Player Dies in His Comrades Arms
The one-time famous Rushden Temperance Band has lost one of its most valued members in the death in action of Rifleman John D Webster, London Regiment, which was unofficially reported on Wednesday. The young bandsman, aged 25, was a son of Mr and Mrs Fred Webster, of 86, Washbrook-road, Rushden, and the sad news is sent by Bandsman Odell, who says that at about 8.30 last Friday a shell burst just against Rifleman Webster and he turned to Odell saying "I'm hit" and died in his arms.
Rifleman Webster enlisted in -- County of London Regt, in 1915, with a company of other players in the Temperance Band. Last year he and all those who were fit were detailed for foreign service as stretcher bearers.
The deceased soldier was well-known in Rushden, and was formerly employed at Mr C W Horrell's shoe factory. He passed through the Sunday school of the Rushden Congregational Church. At Christmastide, 1915, shortly after he joined up, he was married in London and his wife came to reside with his parents.
Mrs John D Webster and Mr and Mrs Fred Webster desire to return their grateful thanks to the many kind friends for their expressions of sympathy with them in their great bereavement.
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The Rushden Echo Friday 6 April 1917, transcribed by Nicky Bates
Memorial Service - After evening service at the Congregational Church on Sunday, a short but unimpressive ceremony was held to respect the memory of Rifleman John Webster, a Sunday school and church worker, whose death in action we reported in our last issue. The Rev E F Walker paid a touching tribute to the Sterling character of the deceased soldier, and Rifleman Webster's favourite hymn "Lead, kindly light" was sung. The organist Mr W L Sargent, played the "Dead march in Saul", the congregation standing.
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Rushden Echo, July 20th 1917, transcribed by Kay Collins
An Open Air Meeting was held on the Green on Sunday evening under the auspices of the Free Church Council, and was conducted by the Congregationalists.
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| Kathy Holmes, via email, tell us:
My great grandfather William Reginald Leaton was minister at the Congregational Church in the late 20s, early 1930s. I have been speaking to my grandad (who is 92) and he told me they used to live on Church street. They lived in the house that is now the Curry House, next to the Italian restaurant. It was the manse for the congregational church. They lived there from 1928 to 1932.
He also said there was a blacksmiths in John Street (as he remembers the horses coming for shoeing).
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Congregational Church - mainpage
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