HARTING CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Our Pastor
I was ordained in 2012 after 5 years training. As a Minister of a Congregational Church, I am appointed by the Church Members. As an independent Church governed by the Church meeting, we have no hierarchy, no Bishops or Moderators and I am answerable only to the Members. We are an independent Church affiliated to the Congregation Federation, which is there to provide advice, help and support whenever it is needed.
We rely on the presence of God at the heart of our Church life, in worship and in mission, but in a distinctive way as we do not submit to a higher authority because we already submit to the highest authority, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Our
Church life is Bible based and led by the Holy Spirit, and it can be argued that many early Churches were in fact, Congregational.
People and the community are at the heart of what we try to do, which is why we continue to use the telephone conference system as part of our worship so that those who are unable to join us in the Church building are still able to worship and continue to feel part of the fellowship.
We believe that Christianity is not identified with uniformity of structure, organisation and theological statement, but by being there for everyone, whoever they are and drawing alongside them in their time of need, just as Jesus did.
Anyone who comes to the Church is made welcome, there is no exclusion on any level, so why not come along and visit us sometime.
Reverend Linda Huggett
Our Church
Founded in 1800 by Richard Densham.
The Congregational church at South Harting is the last Congregational Church in Sussex just before reaching Hampshire. Or if you prefer we are the first coming from the west. We have had in the past a close relationship with Petersfield Congregational Church and at one time we shared Ministers with them. In 1972 Petersfield decided to join with others to form the U.R.C. Harting voted by a very close margin to remain independent. We then voted to join the Congregational Federation.
Many said that not joining the U.R.C. was a bad move and thought we would not survive. We have survived and gone from strength to strength under the great leadership of our Ministers and a very loyal and strong membership.
One of our regular worshipers was Christened in our Church in 1920 and at the age of 93 still attends with his wife most Sundays.
We are twinned with Reawick Congregational Church in the Shetland Islands the most northerly Congregational church in the U.K.
Star of Hope
The Star of Hope was hung in the Church porch in December 2020, during a period when services could not be held in churches. The late Minister, Ken Jacques, asked for it to remain in the porch always as a sign of Hope to all who pass it by and seeing it shining out into the darkness.
The Church is always open for quiet reflection and private prayer.
OUR HISTORY
Our church was formed in 1800 by Richard Densham. Richard Densham was an itinerant preacher devoted to the idea of independence from the established church and one of the most devoted evangelists of the time. The original Chapel was at the other end of the village. Our current Church, still referred to as Chapel by some of the older members was built in 1871, the foundation stone being laid on 13th July that year, the total cost being £690.1s.6d!
During that time there have been 25 regular Ministers at Harting, some of them part-time and one, Rev'd Frank Cranham, having been our Minister on two separate occasions.
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1866 - The Congregational Church opened their first village school.
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The first burial in our Church cemetery was the one-year-old son of the Minister at the time Henry Mercer.
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1934 - Our magnificent organ was purchased for £150.
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1937 - the Minister J. Arthur Andrew was the first incumbent to be married in our Church.
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1944 - the Church Hall was used as a canteen for servicemen stationed in the area.
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1942 - First coffee, cake & chat was held on Good Friday revived by Linda and going from strength to strength