About our church

Farnham United Reformed Church began as a Congregational Church in 1793 and moved to the present building in 1872. In 1973 we became part of the new United Reformed Church in England, Scotland and Wales which united the Congregational, Presbyterian and Churches of Christ traditions. The United Reformed Church is a Protestant church, in the Reformed tradition, the largest world-wide family of churches.

However, there is an earlier history. In 1643 the Anglican Minister was ejected from St Andrew's Parish Church and Puritan Ministers were installed there. In 1660, Samuel Stileman, a Presbyterian Minister, was ejected from St. Andrew's, and gathered a Presbyterian congregation separate from the Church of England. A Presbyterian Meeting House was later built in West Street. In 1792 William Gunn, an evangelical preacher, was also ejected from the parish church, and he gathered an Independent congregation, who quickly built the Ebenezer Independent Chapel in East Street.
By 1794 the Presbyterian congregation had become extremely moribund, with only a handful of members, and they decided to merge with the new Independent congregation, taking with them a large endowment. In 2010 we are marking the 350th anniversary of Samuel Stileman's separate ministry with a series of events, including services to be led by distinguished preachers from the United Reformed Church.

Farnham United Reformed Church is part of the Wessex Synod of the United Reformed Church.

In common with all United Reformed Churches, members elect Elders, who share with the Minister in the spiritual and pastoral oversight of the church. All members of the church share together in the Church Meeting, the decision-making body of the church.

What is the United Reformed Church?

The United Reformed Church is a Union of..

the Congregational Church in England and Wales; (united in 1972)
the Presbyterian Church of England; (united in 1972)
the Re-formed Association of Churches of Christ. (joined in 1981)
the Congregational Union of Scotland (joined in April 2000)

The United Reformed Church stands in the Reformed tradition of Christian faith...(more)

How to find us

We are in South Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7QU.

Map

Telephone number 01252 726306
Spire Coffee Bar 01252 724109

(For room bookings see "Halls for Hire" below)

Children and Church

Children are not the Church of tomorrow. They are the Church of today. They are equal members of the worshipping community, which we call the family of the Church.

The Christian family here at Farnham United Reformed Church accepts children as very much members of the family.... (more)

What do we believe?

We do not impose tests of belief on one another, for such things are between each person and God. Anybody and everybody is welcome to worship with us and to receive Holy Communion. As a national Church, the United Reformed Church has made several statements of faith. (more)

Getting in touch

Our minister (see below) is the Reverend Michael Hopkins. His telephone number is 01252 711359, mobile 0771 640 9350

E-mail: minister@farnhamurc.org.uk

Baptism

Celebrating the birth and naming of your baby at Farnham United Reformed Church

First of all, we, the congregation of Farnham United Reformed Church, want to congratulate you on the birth of your baby. We share (more)

Historical Information

General Background

Our present building was built in 1872 for the Congregationalists of Farnham, although they began much earlier than that.

In Tudor times the Reformation reached England, and those who believed in that movement most strongly were known as Puritans. Many of the Puritans held Presbyterian views of church order, meaning that church was governed by councils of Ministers and Elders (elected lay people), rather than by Bishops. (more)

Halls for hire

To hire a room at the church telephone 0845 310 2426 (answerphone always available)

Information about holding your wedding at Farnham United Reformed Church

Introduction

Every marriage is slightly different because each couple is different. At Farnham United Reformed Church you are welcome to shape the Wedding Service to suit you, under the guidance of the Minister.

The most important thing to remember is that planning a wedding takes time ... (more)

Our minister, the Revd Michael Hopkins. Michael was ordained in September 2002, when he was 26. He began his ministry with us in September 2005. Michael studied science at Durham University, worked in a hostel for the homeless in London, and trained for the Ministry in Oxford. Before coming to us, Michael served for three years as Minister in a United Reformed Church - Church of England ecumenical partnership in the village of Twyford in Berkshire.

The photograph shows the Rev.Michael Hopkins at Bordon Shared Church in November 2005, courtesy of Chris Jaques, the photographer. Click on the photograph for a larger version.