Skinner Street United Reformed Church is the oldest church in Poole, Dorset, England. The current building is the only eighteenth century church building in Poole, and is a Grade II* listed building. The church has a grave for Cyril Coles, one of the gunners in the first tank attack in 1916.[1][2] The church is used as an adult learning centre.[3]
History
editThe original chapel was built in 1662, making it Poole's oldest surviving church. In 1663, John Wesley's eponymously named grandfather became first minister of the chapel.[4] The church moved to a new building in 1760, and the present Georgian building was built in 1777 for £1,440. It is the only eighteenth century church building in Poole[4][5] The current vestry was added in 1814, and the chapel was extended in 1823, with the introduction of new galleries, at a cost of around £2,000. The roof was altered in 1886.[5][6] In the nineteenth century, the church had a congregation of over 1,000 people, and the congregation was later split into other United Reformed Churches, including one in Newfoundland.[7] The building and its north-eastern wall and railings became a Grade II* listed building in 1954.[6] In 2014, the church received a grant of £5,000 from the Dorset Historic Churches Trust for roof repairs.[8] In 2015, the church offered free dental care and flu jabs to homeless people.[9]
In 2021, a blue plaque to naturist Philip Henry Gosse was dedicated at the church.[10]
References
edit- ^ Slade, Darren (13 April 2016). "When the first tanks were unleashed upon German forces during WW1". Southern Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Tank Hero Discovered 100 years On". War History Online. 13 September 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Skinner Street United Reformed Church Dorset Adult Learning venue". Dorset for You. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ a b Henderson, Diana (30 June 2012). "Poole's oldest church still going strong at 350-years-old". Bournemouth Daily Echo. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ a b "Poole". An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 2, South east. 1970. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016 – via British History Online.
- ^ a b "UNITED REFORM CHURCH AND ATTACHED WALL AND RAILINGS TO NORTH EAST". Historic England. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ Hosier, Matthew (22 September 2015). "Old Buildings, New Life". Think Theology. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Dorset Historic Churches Trust: Annual Report and Review" (PDF) (pdf). Dorset Historic Churches Trust. 2015. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Boost for homeless and vulnerable people". ITV News. 28 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "Poole: Sea-life mural celebrates aquarium creator". BBC News. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.