United Reformed Church

The United Reformed Church, formerly Congregational, was built in 1904 for Sir George Newnes, who acted as patron at a cost of £1,500. The church is constructed of snecked rubble with limestone ashlar dressings, and has a tile roof. It is oriented with its gable facing Lee Road.

This is an Arts and Crafts building with Art Nouveau influences. The main gable features decorative timber framing with cusping, a brattished bottom tie, and plastered panels above a five-light window with a transom and flat segmental head featuring decorative spandrels, with cusped lights. The gable eaves have a cusped bargeboard and a small finial. A gabled porch, brought forward, features a similar bargeboard over a pair of plank doors within a segmental moulded arch. Set behind the porch is a square tower with corner turrets and recessed lancet panels, topped with an undulating crenellated parapet above blind Perpendicular panelling. The tower has a two-light casement with a transom and a pyramidal roof with a lead finial. The east side of the tower has a three-light casement, while the west return has four bays with three-light casements, cusped lights under flat segmental arches, and small-pane leading, divided by square buttresses with two offsets, diagonally set at the gable end.

To the right is a gabled vestry, set forward towards the street, with decorative bargeboard and timber framing containing a five-light timber casement. The south gable is plain, with a small ridge stack, and includes an attached, low apse with a conical roof, and a diagonal buttress to the right corner. The east side of the church has four three-light windows and buttresses, mirroring the west side. The deep eaves retain the original cast-iron ogee gutter.

The interior features four arched-braced collar trusses with decorative square baluster kingposts. The walls are plastered, with a panelled dado and plain glass windows. A central octagonal pulpit showcases Art Nouveau carved decoration, flanked by rails and a platform on two steps. There was formerly an organ in the apsidal recess. The interior is austere yet dignified.

The building is an example of Sir George Newnes' generosity in the town, and shares a similar style with the Town Hall. An inscribed stone commemorates the church’s dedication on August 23rd 1904. The church contains stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops.