Heritage Open Day at Rose Hill URC / Conversion and Innovation

About

Rose Hill URC is a multi purpose site. It can be worship style, café style and is suitable for concerts etc.

The Independent Chapel was housed in the Blue Meeting House until members acquired the land to build on Soresby Street. The Church was opened in May 1823, the inscription over the main door was laid and is inscribed Independent Chapel 1822 It was extended in the 1950’s to house the Sunday School complete with the Eastwood Hall.

It became part of the Congregational Church until the formation of the United Reformed Church in 1972. In 2011 we decided that we no longer needed the Sunday School rooms and Hall and together with 1church100uses we looked to find a partner to lease the room. Chesterfield Studios a music, drama and dance company for children and young people became that partner in 2013.

With money raised from the congregation, the Synod and from Grant Assistance we transformed the rooms to the rear of the church to form the Rose Room, kitchen toilets and a store. The sanctuary was double glazed, the loft insulated, new seats and furniture were purchased to make it warm, comfortable and welcoming. A new AV system was installed. The space has been used free of charge by the Volunteer Centre for a friendship café for the lonely and isolated and by the Alzheimer’s Society for meetings for clients.

We hold coffee mornings for charities and local good causes.

The church has had to be closed for 2 years due to some structural issues but will reopen in August after repairs have been completed. More work to make the church waterproof will have to be undertaken