Ongar United Reformed Church

High Street, Ongar, Essex, CM5 9EA

Contacts

Minister: Revd Karen Knight: revdkaren@gmail.com

Email: mail@ongarurc.org.uk

Website: https://www.ongarurc.org.uk/

Twinkles Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3499056786823578

Sunday Worship at 11am

  • Our weekly worship is 11.00 am every Sunday.
  • Holy Communion is celebrated monthly.
  • We enjoy a mixture of traditional and contemporary worship, but we aim to offer worship that is dignified and which is characterised by a sense of joy and thankfulness.
  • Sometimes, the Minister of our Church or another Minister from our group of churches will lead worship. At other times, a Lay Preacher or Accredited Worship Leader will be the leader.
  • Other members of the congregation take part in various ways and all are encouraged to use their gifts for the glory of God..
  • All are welcome.

Preaching Plan, all 11am unless stated:

DateMinister/PreacherNotes
1 MarchGraham WatsonHoly Communion
8 MarchMichael Dyer
15 MarchEfua Koi-Larbi
22 MarchPenny Bloom
29 MarchMike Shelbourne
5 AprilJoan SmithEaster Sunday
Holy Communion
12 AprilArthur Revels
19 AprilRev Karen Knight
26 AprilEfua Koi-Larbi

 

Our Church Newsletter

Stepping Stones March 2026Download

Regular Activities

Twinkles Playgroup

Thursday: 10am-Midday. All Parents and Carers with young pre-school children welcome. Refreshments served.

Coffee Morning

Last Saturday in the month, 10:30am-Midday. All Welcome.

Open House

Community Coffee Morning. Wednesdays 10am-midday. All Welcome.

History

Ongar URC was a Congregational Church, deriving from a Dissenters’ Meeting House, formed after the ejection of the priest at the Church of England church in 1663. The current building, built in 1835, is Grade II listed, as is some of the interior. The interior of the church has recently been repainted.

The Church is proud of its history, which includes figures such as Revd Isaac Taylor and his family (composer of ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’) and David Livingstone, who trained here and lodged in one of the cottages.

The Livingstone Hall

The Halls are a later addition and in 2019 these were completely renovated to improve access and provide state-of-the-art facilities for the church and community through the building of a new kitchen/entrance/toilet and office. The complex was renamed as “The Livingstone Hall” where a portrait of this world famous Christian missionary/explorer, and short-time resident in one of our cottages, is displayed and the upstairs is now the “The Taylor Gallery”.