Barnet Wood Street United Reformed Church

The United Reformed Church was founded in October 1972 by union of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England. However not all the churches belonging to these two denominations agreed to accept the 1972 Scheme of Union. The records of those Hertfordshire churches which remained separate are catalogued under the reference NC.

UNITED REFORMED CHURCH RECORDS

NR 1 Barnet, Wood Street United Reformed Church

NR 2 Bushey United Reformed Church

NR 3 Barley United Reformed Church

NR 4 St Albans, Trinity United Reformed Church

NR 5 Letchworth Free Church

NR 6 Ware United Reformed Church

NR 7 Royston United Reformed Church

NR 8 Hitchin United Reformed Church

NR 9 Radlett United Reformed Church

NR 10 Wheathampstead United Reformed Church

NR 11 Hemel Hempstead, Adeyfield Free Church (affiliated to the United Reformed Church

NR 12 Bishops Stortford United Reformed Church

NR 13 Harpenden United Reformed Church

NR 14 Hertford United Reformed Church

NR 15 New Barnet United Reformed Church

NR 16 Knebworth United Reformed Church

<span class="wrapper"><p>A history of the Wood Street church by Rev. T Perry An Independent People 1669-1969 is available in the Record Office Search Room.</p> <p>For Walkern United Reformed Church see D/EX838</p></span>

The records were deposited in the Record Office in May 1979 by Miss A M Parkins a member of the Wood Street Church Acc 1700.

There seems to have been a strong tradition of Nonconformity in Barnet. The Rector Rev. Samuel Shaw was ejected from his living in 1660 for Puritan sympathies. From the writings of Richard Baxter and John Corbett two eminent Nonconformists who came to live in Totteridge during this period we learn of the early Independent Chapel at Barnet. The first leader was the Presbyterian John Faldo who began preaching in a rented room in Wood Street often to a congregation of over two hundred. A register of the certificates issued to Protestant Meeting Places, 1689-1706 is held by the Record Office (Ref. QS Misc 1471). In this volume two places in Barnet were registered at the Midsummer Sessions July 1689 - the house of John Hudlestone and the house of William Freejohn. The first chapel building in Wood Street was erected in 1709 probably at the expense of Mrs Fiennes and John Nicholls. Until this date the members had probably met in each others homes. The fortunes of this chapel, however, fluctuated wildly during the remainder of the eighteenth century. The buildings became increasingly delapidated and after the disastrous ministry of Dr Thomas Marryatt closed altogether in 1760. A small group of people reopened the chapel in 1797 but by this date only one trustee remained. In 1804 the Rev. John Morison came to Barnet and under his guidance the church grew. He opened the first Sunday School to be established in Barnet. His example was followed by his successor the Rev. Alexander Stewart who was a noted promoter of education for people of all ages and became very involved with the social welfare of his congregation [see NR1/7]. The chapel was rebuilt in 1824 and during his ministry land was purchased behind the building for use as a burial ground allowing access from Union Street. The buildings were renovated in 1880 and also at this date enfranchised so making all the church's property freehold. The church prospered and in 1893 during the ministry of Rev. John Matthews the present church building designed by George Baines was erected. A manse was purchased in 1900 and in 1907 the new Sunday School hall and classrooms were opened. This building became known as the Ewen Hall and was used as a Hospital during the first World War.

A daughter church in Chesterfield Road, Barnet was established in 1935 by Rev. R E Thomas and several members of his congregation from Wood Street. The first minister to be appointed to Chesterfield Road was Rev. J C Alexander but more recently the church has been served by the Minister of Wood Street. Apart from the small group of items referred to below [NR1/32] no records of this church are held by the Record Office.