Маленькая церковь в Челле отметила 125-летие праздничным чаепитием и богослужением

ONE of Essex's smallest churches has marked its 125th anniversary. The United Reformed Church at Chappel, which can seat just 60 people, celebrated the milestone on Saturday with an afternoon tea at Chappel and Wakes Colne Village Hall. The community then gathered for a service at the church itself. The Rev Dr Robert Pope, a lecturer in Church History at Westminster College, Cambridge, attended as the guest speaker, delivering a talk on Christian Dissent – Past and Present. Other notable attendees included the Rev Sharon Quilter from The Three Colnes Anglican Churches, the Rev Ruth Ridge, minister at Sudbury Methodist Church, Susan Chamley, chair of Chappel Parish Council, and Sir Bob Russell, High Steward of Colchester. Sir Bob was a patron for the Chappel URC's organ refurbishment project in 2019. The church, originally a Congregational Church, first opened its doors in August 1901, converting a former builders’ store, and underwent an extension approximately 20 years later. Read more The church's historic pipe organ, installed in 1989 after being saved from a redundant church, was fully restored seven years ago. The church's name changed from Congregational to United Reformed in 1972. Regular services are held every Sunday evening at 6.30pm.