Church Chairman: Michael Hockaday
Members: 22Children: 8
Adherents: 7
Times of services: 10:15am
Secretary: Mr. Michael Hockaday, 23 Narrow Lane, Hathern, Loughborogh, Leics LE12 5LH (01509) 552606, (07969) 285007
steampilot@btinternet.com Protection Verifier: Mrs. Pam Wright, 4 St Michael's Close, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9WR (01530) 243810
CF Ltd Trustees: Yes
Listed Building: No
Conservation Area: No
Disabled Facilities: Yes
Keep Safe Policy: Yes
Additional Information:
On 11 December 1852 a parcel of land in the centre of the village was finally Conveyed to a group of “seceding Methodists”. It is believed that work on building a small Chapel must by then have been complete since a few weeks earlier it had been opened and dedicated to the Glory of God. So that date is regarded as the start of Markfield Congregational Church. The builder was one Henry Chapmen who had a staff of bricklayers and carpenters. They were assisted by men who, when they had finished their day at the quarries, came to do labouring work. Most of the names are unknown but their memorial still stands in Main Street today. Now it is the Church Hall.
Although regarded as “Congregational” and featuring as such in the National Year Book continuously from 1862 onwards it seems that it was not freed legally from its Methodist shackles until 1929 when on 7 May it was formally entrusted to “The Leicestershire and Rutland Congregational Union (Incorporated)”.
100 yards up Main Street there was the Primitive Methodist Church (known as Bourne Methodist Chapel). Although the amalgamation of the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists took place in the 1930’s it wasn’t until 1959 that Bourne Chapel decided to do so locally. The Methodists were anxious that, if at all possible, their now redundant chapel should still be used for religious purposes. After protracted negotiations, on 24 September 1962 Bourne Chapel formally came into the hands of the Congregationalists although the latter had in fact been working in the building for some time altering it
to suit their needs.
On 18 May 1963 the “new” Markfield Congregational Church was dedicated whilst the existing building now became the Church Hall. That arrangement still obtains today.
In 1978/9 the Church had to be closed for 12 months for major repairs, following the discovery of dry (and wet) rot, leaving the building much as it is today.
In 1993 the Church had to “Take a good look at itself” since the Sunday School had dwindled drastically and “the average age of members (or those attending regularly) is gradually getting higher”. A Church Open Day was held with the result that by the year end three new Church Members had been welcomed into the Fellowship and the Sunday Club had been formed. The Sunday Club was a joint venture with the Anglicans and still meets most Sunday mornings in our Church Hall (the Anglicans have no facilities other than the Parish Church).
In 2001 thoughts were beginning to turn to the disposal of the Church Hall since its roof was rapidly deteriorating but it was then discovered that the building was in a newly designated Markfield Conservation Area. Repair grants were requested and granted with provisos – result: a re-roofed building with refurbished iron windows and new cast iron rainwater items in keeping with what would have been fitted when the building was erected way back in 1852.
On 1 December 2002 Markfield Congs celebrated their 150th anniversary. The Church was full for a United Service (United Services are held every month [in different venues] uniting the Catholics, the Anglicans, the Methodists and ourselves).
This year (2010) we have just had the Church interior re-decorated and the light colours make for a very refreshing atmosphere in which to worship. We are anticipating welcoming two or three new Church Members shortly. Services are held every Sunday morning at 10.15 (except when a United Service is held elsewhere) and attendance is usually in the mid teens. For the majority of services we have a visiting speaker thereby obtaining a wider interpretation of Christian teaching.