The Abbey United Reformed Church

The Abbey United Reformed Church is a fine Perpendicular style building constructed between 1886 and 1888 to the designs of architects Bonella and Paull. It is built of flint with stone dressings.

The main church comprises a central aisle of 4 bays, each bay lit by 2 three-light Perpendicular windows in the clerestory. Lean-to side aisles flank the central aisle, both with crenellated parapets. The east aisle is canted inwards at its south-east end, while the west aisle contains a vestry at its south-west end. The main doorway is positioned at the north end of the east aisle and features a 4-centred door set in deep moulded reveals with carved spandrels and elaborate stonework above. At the north end of the central aisle stands an 8-light Perpendicular window arranged in 5 tiers. Internally, wooden galleries run along the east, north and south sides.

On the north-east corner stands a tall gatehouse which straddles the road called The Abbey. This gatehouse is constructed of dressed flint with stone dressings and features a tall, wide 4-centred arch spanning the road, beneath which is a ribbed stone vault with carved bosses. On the east side above the arch is one 2-light window set in a square arch, each light with a 4-centred head. A moulded stone string with gargoyles runs above this, followed by 3 single-light windows in reveals, each light with a cusped head. Above each of these windows is a blind 2-light stone panel, each light with applied cusped tracery. Hood moulds rise above each panel to form a crenellated parapet with a gable. To the south of the gatehouse is a turret topped with an elaborately carved ogee-shaped stone cupola.

The Abbey United Reformed Church, together with Nos 8 to 12 (even) and Nos 18 to 24 (even) Abbey Water, form a group.