Raleigh Road United Church
51°28′3.8346″N 0°17′27.2538″W / 51.467731833°N 0.290903833°W / 51.467731833; -0.290903833
LocationRaleigh Road, Richmond, London TW9 2HN
CountryEngland
DenominationMethodist and United Reformed
Websiteraleighroadunitedchurch.uk
History
Former name(s)Kew Road Methodist Church; St. Paul’s Congregational Church; St Paul's United Reformed Church
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Completed1956
Administration
SynodSouthern
CircuitRichmond and Hounslow
Clergy
Minister(s)Revd Claudia Lupi[1]

Raleigh Road United Church, at the corner of Raleigh Road and Stanmore Gardens in Richmond, London, is a joint congregation of a Methodist Church and a United Reformed Church. The churches, formerly known as Kew Road Methodist Church and St. Paul's Congregational Church, have been united since September 1995.[1]

History

St Paul's Congregational Church, on Raleigh Road, opened on 12 December 1898 to provide for the religious needs of a rapidly growing new district of Richmond. The only other Congregational church in Richmond was situated in The Vineyard, a mile and a half away. The building was funded mainly by Alderman Sir Charles Burt, a prominent member of The Vineyard Church[2] and a former mayor of Richmond.[3] That building was destroyed by enemy action on 1 October 1940 and the current building was opened on 8 December 1956.[2][4]

Kew Road Methodist Church opened in 1868, on a site purchased from a portion of the Countess of Shaftesbury's estate. It originally acted as a chapel on Sundays and, until 1927, a day school during the week. An additional chapel, which seated 1,000 people, was added in 1872. This was destroyed by fire in 1881, and was rebuilt in 1882.[4]

In 1933 a new church was required to accommodate both Kew Road and Sheen Road churches and it was decided to develop the Kew Road site. In 1937 the old church was demolished and a new church was erected. This closed in 1995 with the merger with St Paul's United Reformed Church and was replaced with a block of flats.[4]

Minister

The minister is Revd Claudia Lupi.[1]

Activities

Services are held on Sunday mornings at 10.30 am. During school terms there is also a Junior Church session at the same time.[1][5]

The church has three halls, which are used for private functions and community groups.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Richmond". Richmond and Hounslow Methodist Circuit. London District of the Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "History". Raleigh Road United Church. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Address by Charles Burt, Mayor of Richmond". London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "United church celebrates a decade". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 23 September 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  5. ↑ "Services". Raleigh Road United Church. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
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