HARTING CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH

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 refered to as Chapel by some of the older members was built in 1871, the foundation stone being layed 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 seperate occasions.

 

At the present time we are fortunate enough to have two ministers, Ken who has been Minister since 1989 and our Assistant Minister Linda who has been with us since her ordination at this Church in 2012. Both had been members for some years before becoming Ministers.

 

The Congregational Church opened their first village school in 1866.

The first burial in our Church cemetery was the one year old son of the Minister at the time Henry Mercer.

 

Our magnificent organ was purchased in 1934 for £150.

 

In 1937 the Minister J.Arthur Andrew was the first incumbent to be married in our Church.

 

1944 saw the Church Hall used as a canteen for servicemen stationed in the area.

 

First coffee, cake & chat was held on Good Friday 1942 revived by Linda and going from strength to strength