Celebrating 50 years of the United Reformed Church

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This morning at Trinity Church in Abingdon we celebrated 50 years since the founding of the United Reformed Church or URC. The URC was created by the union of the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England and Wales.

The Congregational Church in Abingdon was where Ask now is.

Timeline
1700 – Erection of the first Congregational meeting house in the sheep market. Most of this still stands today and was a building about 40 feet square. The roof was upheld by two ships’ masts.

1862 – The Congregational Church was extended in the Square in 1862. Part of the old meeting house became a schoolroom and part was incorporated into the new church sanctuary. Three cottages were taken down and rebuilt in Spring Road to make more room.

1968 – The Congregational Church closed its building in the town centre and moved in for joint services with Trinity Church, Conduit Road, on an informal basis.

1972 – The Congregational Church nationally united with the Presbyterians to form the United Reformed Church.

1978 – The signing of sharing agreements between Trinity Methodist Church and Abingdon United Reformed Church formed the current church.

In 1972 it was hoped that the forming of the URC would be a catalyst for bringing more churches together. That has not happened nationally but has happened locally. The Church in Abingdon was formed in 1992 and allows 14 Abingdon churches to work and worship together. Trinity is a Methodist, URC union. The Peachcroft Christian Centre is an Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, and URC union.

On the Market Place today

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This morning on the Market Place, as part of the Oxfordshire Great Green Week, the people of Abingdon made Robin Nesting Boxes to be taken home and put up in suitable locations.

There were other green stalls under the County Hall and on the Market Place including one for Abingdon Liveable Streets, a project that aims to improve our walking and cycling routes so that people can travel to school or work safely without needing to use their cars.

Also on the Market Place was a Guide Dogs stall. The Market Place is not only available for Markets but also for community groups. The application process is on the town council website at https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/community-services/help-your-event/booking-market-place. The main issue for some groups is getting their own Public Liability Insurance for £10 million.

New exercise machines at Caldecott Rec + The World Conker Championship

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New exercise machines are on one side of the Caldecott Recreation Ground hedge.

On the other side, where the canal once flowed, are a dozen horse chestnut trees.

There was steady rain and a lot of conkers fell today on the last day of September.

There is still time to enter the World Conker Championship in our neighbouring county – Northamptonshire. The championships take place on the 9th of October 2022. To enter, go to https://www.worldconkerchampionships.com/. The rules say you cannot use your own conkers, so none of the Caldecott conkers will become champions.

Coco’s and Traffic

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Coco’s of Abingdon opened at Coxeter House at the start of September.  This cafe also has a soft play area for toddlers.


Work is supposed to start on strengthening the historic arches of Abingdon Bridge in October 2022. The tailback from Abingdon Bridge to the town centre causes knock-on problems.

Traffic has been busy over the last few days in Abingdon. Rush hours in West St Helen Street have been busy. That is usually caused by problems on Drayton Road.

As to the Lodge Hill Interchange, the County Council website says ‘Phase One currently consists of submitting a planning application in September 2022’. We should soon know more.