The Congregational Memorial Hall

By the middle of the nineteenth century, Congregationalism was transformed from a string of introverted meeting houses huddled away in obscure corners into a network of thriving chapels placed prominently on main streets. By 1850 there were over 3,200 Congregational churches. Throughout the years, Congregationalists had co-operated on matters of common concern to their churches.

Although each church was independent, the churches realised that they had to work together to achieve certain aims. The Savoy Declaration which was drawn up in 1658 marked the first real gathering of Independent churches from across Britain. The Savoy Declaration was a defining moment in the development of a clear statement of faith and church polity for Congregationalism. The meetings at the Savoy demonstrated a unity of purpose between the churches which continued, often on an informal basis. County and district associations or unions of churches were established in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries in response to the need for evangelism.

The Methodists had gained much ground whilst the Congregationalists, with little organization had not increased as they might have done. Encouraged by the Evangelical Revival, many Congregationalists began to call for more organization and co-operation between the churches to further evangelism. In 1813 the Scottish Congregationalists had established a national union of their churches. In 1818 the first edition of the Congregational Magazine was published. Behind this publication were a number of men who desired further union between the churches. Through the pages of this magazine for the next twelve years the idea of a national Congregational Union was discussed. Many Congregationalists condemned the magazine as simply a means of promoting the cause of a national union, and thus inpinging on the independence of the local church. But by May 1831 a national Congregational Union was formed, when eighty two ministers from around the country met in the newly established Congregational Library and committed themselves to the cause of the Union.

The Union soon took up the cause of evangelism and church extension. Funds were established to help with the erection of chapels and the work of the Union grew. In 1862 on the bicentenary of the ejection of Nonconformist ministers from the Church of England, it was resolved to build a number of new chapels and a Memorial Hall and Library in London. In 1875 the new Congregational Memorial Hall was opened in Farringdon Street EC, and became the administrative centre of Congregationalism.

A Congregational Year Book was first published in 1846 which listed churches and ministers. By the end of the nineteenth century this book also listed the numbers of members and children in every church. A History of the Independents was published by the Union as well as many booklets on Congregational principles. A national Congregational Hymn Book was published in 1855.

The Congregationalists of England and Wales were now working together as they had never done before. But the Union led to greater centralization. The Congregational churches were growing and had more members than they had ever had. By the outbreak of the first world war, it is estimated that about one million people in the United Kingdom would have attended a Congregational church or Sunday School each week. But Congregationalists were declining as a percentage of the overall population. Something had to be done. There were calls for a closer union, possibly a "United Congregational Church". Changes to the organisation of the Union were made to improve its efficiency. Moderators were appointed to have responsibility and oversight of churches. Congregationalism was becoming more and more centralized.

Some called for union with another denomination to increase the size and effectiveness of the churches. At one stage, some consideration was given to the idea that the Baptist Union and the Congregational Union might unite. A joint assembly of these two bodies was held in 1901. Even though the only difference between the Baptists and Congregationalists was on the issue of baptism, many prefered to look to the Presbyterians for union. Eventually talks with the Presbyterians were held after the second world war but came to nothing. By the 1960s, negotiations had re-opened and in 1967, the Congregational Union of England and Wales became the Congregational Church England and Wales. It is difficult to understand how Congregationalists on the 1960 could form a national Congregational church. A national Congregational church is a contradiction in terms, the very nature of Congregationalism being that the local church is the church in its all its fullness, independent of all other churches in its work and administration. Congregationalism is a "grass roots" movement and not a centralized form of churchmanship.

A number of churches left the national Congregational Church as their Congregational principles prevented them being part of this body. A Congregational Association was also established to fight the centralizing tendencies within Congregationalism at this time. Soon talks with the Presbyterian Church of England led to a Scheme of Union. In 1972 the United Reformed Church was established by a Union of the Presbyterian Church and the Congregational Church. Six hundred Congregational churches voted to remain independent, whilst three hundred Presbyterian churches joined with the other Congregational churches to form the U.R.C.

The United Reformed Church adopted a Presbyterian system which recognises a local church as being one congregation of a national church rather than a church in its own right. Churches joining the United Reformed Church had to give all their property over to the new denomination, and once part of the U.R.C., churches were unable to leave and become Congregational or Presbyterian again, unless they left their property behind. (A number of former Congregational churches were allowed to leave the U.R.C. in its early days, but this has now stopped) Ministers of local churches are paid centrally by the U.R.C. rather than by their own local church.