Home | About Us
About Us
The History of Dovercourt Central Church
Church Mission Statement: We, the members and adherents of Dovercourt Central Church, called to be God's people, transformed by the Gospel, making the difference in today's world. We declare our intention to continue and advance God's work in this town by knowing Christ and making him known.
|
The Congregational Church erected a new building for their existing congregation in Cliff Road in 1904. (See Congregational Church below for earlier history).
The Methodist Church began to worship in the present sanctuary in Main Road in 1905. A small hall and facilities were added later. (See Methodist Church below for earlier history). During the Second World War (1939-45) both churches were much frequented by HM forces, stationed in Harwich. The two congregations had for many years shared worship on Good Fridays, and during the 1980's had for a time joined together for evening worship. The two church congregations came together in 1989 and from the beginning the two congregations worshipped together taking responsibility for alternate services according to the traditions of each denomination. During this time they learned more of each other's traditions and ways of Church life. In 1990 for the first time a Minister of the United Reformed Church, the Rev Colin Knight, was ordained in the building. By 1992 it was felt that it was time to enter into a "Joint Sharing Agreement" to officially recognize the joint use of the premises. 90th Anniversary Celebrations of the 90th Anniversary of the Methodist Chapel 1995 saw the 90th Anniversary for the Methodists in which everyone took part, with the Rev John Robinson from Brightlingsea leading. The development of the Cliff Road site as a Congregational Church was phased over several years, commencing in 1904 and ending in 1908, so that 1905 seemed a convenient intermediate date for marking the centenary as a celebration for both church fellowships. |
Earlier History
Dovercourt United Reformed Church (formally known as Dovercourt Congregational Church.)
|
Evidence of a Congregational presence in Harwich stretches back to 1689 with a Meeting House in the vicinity of West Street. Great expansion came during the ministry of the Rev William Hordle (hence Hordle Street) who was appointed in 1799 and continued his ministry for the next 50 years. His great enthusiasm and preaching skills attracted large congregations.
In 1868 Mr Isaac Perry of Chelmsford sent an iron building to the Harwich Congregational Church officers for use in Dovercourt, but it was not erected and was eventually used in another part of the county. |
The real development in Dovercourt began in 1900 when Congregational services were held in the Victoria Hall, adjoining the Cliff Hotel. Then it was decided to seek a permanent site for a church and a plot was purchased in Cliff Road from Mr A H Ward. Because the site was extremely awkward (it had been a brickfield) the building was developed in stages, beginning with the lower part of the chapel, which subsequently became the Sunday School halls. This section was opened on June 15th 1904 by Dr John Hunter. The top part of the building, with a seating capacity of 400, was completed and opened on July 29th 1908. this achievement required a huge fund raising effort which included a "Grand Naval Bazaar" staged at the Retreat, situated at the bottom of Beach Road (now an open space). Despite stormy and wet weather, this three day event, culminating in a grand firework display, was a great success, raising £148. The Pastor leading the congregation during these formative years was Rev. E E Greening.
Included in the brochure describing the opening of the Cliff Road church is an Appendix entitled "The Jewel Casket" which contains 40 pages of proverbs, quotations, Biblical texts, sayings, poems or verses, each contributed by named individuals from Dovercourt or elsewhere. They are hugely various in tone ranging from the comic to the serious. Two examples are included.
Master Frank Saunders of Dovercourt: definition of a gentleman - "A Gentleman is a growed-up boy wot used to mind his mother".
Mr H Bellchamber of Dovercourt - "No destiny dispenses with endeavour".
Included in the brochure describing the opening of the Cliff Road church is an Appendix entitled "The Jewel Casket" which contains 40 pages of proverbs, quotations, Biblical texts, sayings, poems or verses, each contributed by named individuals from Dovercourt or elsewhere. They are hugely various in tone ranging from the comic to the serious. Two examples are included.
Master Frank Saunders of Dovercourt: definition of a gentleman - "A Gentleman is a growed-up boy wot used to mind his mother".
Mr H Bellchamber of Dovercourt - "No destiny dispenses with endeavour".
|
The Dovercourt Congregational Church became the Dovercourt United Reformed Church in 1972 when the Congregational Church in England and Wales united with the Presbyterian Church in England.
It continued its worship, work and witness in the Cliff Road building, but in October 1987 the building in Cliff Road was badly damaged by the hurricane of 1987. The congregation shared the building with St Augustine's Church of England until it closed in 1989, and then moved to share with the Methodist Church at its invitation, during the ministry of the Rev Gordon Lemon. |
Dovercourt Methodist Church
There was a very lively Methodist presence in Harwich at the beginning of the 20th century when the Methodist Chapel opened in 1905 it became the fourth Methodist chapel in Harwich and Dovercourt. There was the long established Wesleyan chapel in Church Street, Harwich (now demolished), this chapel celebrated its centenary in 1929. The Central chapel opened in 1895 at the corner of Park Road, Dovercourt and the Primitive Methodist chapel at Upper Dovercourt established in 1866. All came together in 1932 with a uniting covenant which created a single Methodist Church rather than Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist.
Local enthusiasm lead to a decision to build a new church at Dovercourt. The plot of land for the Oakland Road church was purchased in 1902 and June 1905 saw the opening service conducted by President Elect of the Methodist Conference Reverend Chas Kelly with the Mayor of Harwich. A local builder, Edward Saunders was developing the Hill Crest Estate which included Brooklyn and Oakland Road. A site at the top of The building seated 260 worshippers and land was reserved for further building. The Church of England had already established and extended St Augustine's in Hill Road and the Congregationalists were building in Cliff Road.
A local builder, Edward Saunders was developing the Hill Crest Estate which included Brooklyn and Oakland Road. A site at the top of Oakland Road was selected for the new building. On June 22nd 1905, with Rev C. Kelly, President Elect of the Methodist Conference presiding, the new building was officially opened by the Mayor of Harwich.
The church cost £1,960 and offered seating for 260. A large schoolroom was erected at the side of the building with spare land earmarked for extensions. The chapel took its place within the existing Manningtree and Harwich Circuit, which then included Walton and Clacton. The preaching plan of 1829 identifies 16 chapels with 49 local preachers in the circuit. The circuit magazine of 1933 gives a birds eye view of the Oakland Road Chapel with 4 resident Ministers, one of whom Reverend Sarchet had special responsibilities for youth activities and was Chaplain to HMS Ganges Training Establishment at Shotley.
When the Primitive Methodist Church opposite Cliff Park closed, its congregation and Sunday School pupils transferred to Oakland Road.
|
Harwich had a long association with Methodism. John Wesley visited Harwich when he was "en route" to the Continent. He lodged with the Rector of Harwich, Revd John Jones who was a former colleague. He probably preached at the Chapel in Church Lane (opposite St Nicholas' Church). His journal dated 2nd December 1786 noted he "was much pleased in the evening with the largeness and seriousness of the congregation". the first Wesleyan church in Harwich was built in 1829.
At their centenary in 1929, the preacher was the President of Conference, Dr J W Lightley. the names of two other ministers attending the service will strike a familiar note - Rev J H Bodgener and Rev H Whitmore. |
Both were former Sunday School pupils. Their families' names have long association with "Bodgenors" - a local tailoring business, whose shop by that name was later bought out by the present day Coe's. Interestingly, the present Mr John Whitmore was formerly a Deacon of the Cliff Road Congregational Church.
It was the move of the population westwards from Harwich to the rapidly growing Dovercourt that gave the impetus to the establishment of Dovercourt Methodist Church.
The Church has always been closely connected with the Methodist Home for the Ages at Alexandra House in Marine Parade (formerly the Alexandra Hotel). Residents have often been members of both the Dovercourt Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church whose congregations have supported the work. Accordingly a service is held in Alexandra House every Sunday led by Ministers and lay people from both traditions of the united congregation.
It was the move of the population westwards from Harwich to the rapidly growing Dovercourt that gave the impetus to the establishment of Dovercourt Methodist Church.
The Church has always been closely connected with the Methodist Home for the Ages at Alexandra House in Marine Parade (formerly the Alexandra Hotel). Residents have often been members of both the Dovercourt Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church whose congregations have supported the work. Accordingly a service is held in Alexandra House every Sunday led by Ministers and lay people from both traditions of the united congregation.