CHESHIRE CONGREGATIONAL UNION and CHESTER CONGREGATIONAL ASSOCIATION

• <corpname>Cheshire Congregational Union, 1806-1848</corpname>
• <corpname>Cheshire Congregational Home Missionary Society, 1848-1856</corpname>
• <corpname>Cheshire Congregational, 1856-1992</corpname>
• <corpname>Chester Congretational Association, 1908-1934</corpname>

Acc 2038,2341,2411, 3151,3163,4742

Acc 4970,5058 Addnl to acc 2058

The Cheshire Union of Congregational churches was formed at Macclesfield on 5 November 1806, its chief object bening 'the spread of the Gospel in the unevangelised parts of the county by means of itinerant preaching.' An executive committee was created and rules agreed. Meetings were to be held inthe spring and autumn each year.

In 1848 the name was changed from Cheshire Uniion to Cheshire Congregational Home Missionary Society but the old name was restored in 1856.

Following the formation of the United Reformed Church in 1972 by the union of many Congregational churches with the Presbyterian church the functions of the Congregational were gradually taken over by the Mersey Province and the North West Province of the United Reformed Church. The Congregational Union eventually underwent a process of voluntary liquidation which was completed in 1992.

Histories of the Union are contained in Cheshire Congregationalism - A Brief History by Rev S H Mayor, 1957 (ref:ECU 2038/3/7) and Centenary History of the Cheshire Congregational Union by F J Powicke, 1907 (ref: ECU 3151/1/48)