{"id":1894,"date":"2025-05-28T15:58:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T15:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urc.org.uk\/?p=59131"},"modified":"2025-05-28T15:58:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T15:58:16","slug":"epping-church-celebrates-its-400th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/standrewsurcrustington.org.uk\/?p=1894","title":{"rendered":"Epping church celebrates its 400th anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"

A joyful service was held at Epping URC on 11 May to celebrate its 400th<\/sup> anniversary.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Friends past and present gathered at the second oldest church in the URC and one of the oldest non-conformist churches in the country for a special service which included a concert, a talk on the church\u2019s 400-year history, special video messages from its twinned church of Mbare UPCSA in Harare, Zimbabwe, and a presentation by the junior church.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The packed church continued the celebration after the service by sharing a large buffet together. More events to celebrate the milestone are planned throughout the rest of the year.<\/p>\n

The Revd Karen Knight, Minister of Epping URC, said: \u201cWhat a wonderful start to our anniversary celebrations. Our anniversary service gave us an opportunity to celebrate our past and to look forward to our future with renewed hope and confidence, ready and willing to listen to God and be guided by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur celebration concert was full of good music and laughter, and we were left speechless at the gift and talent of Stephen and Corrine. Like most experts they made it look so easy whilst working terribly hard. I am thankful to have such a good team who worked tirelessly and continue to work to make this a very special year.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Stephen [Warner], an Elder of the church and professional musician, and Corrine [Frost] performed a concert at the church on 16 May.<\/p>\n

Stephen said: \u201cIt was an absolute joy for us to be able to play to our friends at Epping URC and their enthusiastic response and involvement made it an evening to remember for everyone.\u201d The evening also raised money for Epping Forest Foodbank.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In honour of the 400th anniversary, the church also produced a special book written and researched by church elder Jeremy Flack which explored its long history. Many exhibits from the archives were also displayed. Highlights from the church\u2019s history include the early radical and dissenting ministers Jeremiah Dyke and Nathaniel Ball establishing the church, a student David Livingstone preaching in the church in 1839, a visit by Dame Margaret Lloyd George to celebrate its 300th<\/sup> anniversary in 1925, the well-known hymn writer Revd Bryn Rees who was minister of the church in the 1970s and the rebuilding of the church into a modern worship centre in 1997.<\/p>\n

More can be read about the church\u2019s history on their website: https:\/\/eppingurc.org\/history\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A joyful service was held at Epping URC on 11 May to celebrate its 400th anniversary. Friends past and present gathered at the second oldest church in the URC and one of the oldest non-conformist churches in the country for … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1895,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[10],"class_list":["post-1894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-urc-news","tag-urc"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t