Ongar United Reformed Church

Minister with Pastoral Charge

Reverend Cecil White
Email: cewhaebea@gmail.com
Mob: 07483 147441
Tel: 01223 565359

Sunday Worship

We are currently working towards reopening the Church building for worship in October/November 2020, so at the moment we meet together via 'Zoom'.
If you would like to join us online please contact the minister Revd Cecil White (details above).

Ongar United Reformed Church is in the heart of the town (opposite the Fire Station) providing a place of worship and community activities for all ages.

News & Links

• Opening of The Livingstone Hall — November 2019
• Click to view 'Reform Magazine'

Our Mission Statement

To share the good news about God's love and grace
and to serve the community to the best of our ability.

Church History

Ongar URC was a Congregational Church, deriving from a Dissenters' Meeting House, formed after the ejection of the priest at the Church of England church in 1663. The current building, built in 1835, is Grade II listed, as is some of the interior. The interior of the church has recently been repainted.

The Church is proud of its history, which includes figures such as Revd Isaac Taylor and his family (composer of 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star') and David Livingstone, who trained here and lodged in one of the cottages.

The Livingstone Hall

The Halls are a later addition and in 2019 these were completely renovated to improve access and provide state-of-the-art facilities for the church and community through the building of a new kitchen/entrance/toilet and office. The complex was renamed as "The Livingstone Hall" where a portrait of this world famous Christian missionary/explorer, and short-time resident in one of our cottages, is displayed.

The United Reformed Church

Who is the United Reformed Church? We are a family of Christians, worshipping in the name of Jesus in about 1500 local churches from Orkney to Cornwall.

• 'Reformed' means that we delight in the Bible, we do not fear change, and we try to run our churches in ways that take everyone's insight and contribution seriously.
• 'United' is an important part of our story. We started when English Presbyterians merged with English and Welsh Congregationalists in 1972. Churches of Christ joined in 1981 and Scottish Congregationalists in 2000. We still work as closely as we can with Christians of all traditions and styles.
• And we are one 'Church'. We aim to grow through supporting one another and taking decisions together.

All our tasks and posts are open to women as fully as to men. We are an intercultural church, where people with varied ethnic roots enrich each other's Christian living. Our people hold a range of opinions about theology and church life. In the words of the denominations Statement of Nature, Faith and Order (1990) together we are firmly committed to 'God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The living God, the only God, ever to be praised.'

Find out more, by exploring the URC website, or (even better) by coming to meet us and worshipping with us.