14/02/2026
Wonersh United Reformed Church
A History of Your Friendly free church on the common
In 1860 Great Tangley Manor (reputedly a shooting box of King John) was operating as a farm occupied by Mr. William Colebrook, a Guildford butcher. He was a non-conformist, and very interested in the welfare of his employees. William invited them to his house one night each week for reading the Scriptures. This was quickly followed by a Sunday evening service, which largely comprised his farm workers, employees of the Unwin printing works at Chilworth, and their families. William and his family are shown in the image above.
While the kitchen in which the services were held was roomy and warm, ultimately it became too small for the numbers attending. William decided to use a bay of a large barn at the farm instead (see image opposite). The place was rough - stools without backs and a dirt floor – but that did not deter people from attending.
Mr. Colebrook’s family later made the barn more comfortable, at their own expense, by laying a floor, and installing seating and lamps. Numbers increased even further, particularly of children attending Sunday School, so another part of the barn, and cart-sheds were pressed into use. The image opposite is taken from an original 1880 watercolour of the barn interior, by architect Howard Seth Smith, which is in the Society’s archive.
Elsewhere in Wonersh, in 1864 Mr. William Seth Smith had purchased Little Tangley. He and his family took an active interest in the work of the ‘Tangley Mission’ at Great Tangley.
By 1880 it was apparent that the ‘Old Barn’ was no longer suitable or large enough – at one point it was claimed that 125 children were attending the Sunday School alone! So, William generously gave a piece of his Wonersh land for the building of a new home for the services. Designed by his architect son Howard, the foundation stone was laid on 21 April 1880 by Samuel Marling MP. The builder - Goddard & Son of Farnham & Dorking - used Bargate Stone with Bath stone dressings, and according to a Surrey Advertiser report, the cost was £1,950.
The image opposite is the earliest we have of the newly built Church. It is another watercolour by Howard Seth Smith, is dated 1880, and is also in the WHS archive.
The last service in the Barn was held on Sunday 19 September 1880, and the new Church building was opened, free of debt, on 22 September that year – just 5 months from Foundation Stone to Opening. Proud locals christened it the ‘Non-conformist Village Cathedral.’
The earliest photograph of which we are aware, is a Francis Frith image of circa 1894 (not shown for reasons of copyright). In our own archive we have one which appears to be taken only slightly later (see opposite).
For its first forty years it continued under the old name of the Tangley Chapel, but in 1921, when the first ordained Minister - Rev. Oliver East - was appointed, it became known as The Wonersh Congregational Church.
The 1920s was an important decade for the Congregational Church. Not least because it saw the start of a strong and enduring relationship with the scouting movement. The image opposite dates from 1924.
For just over 100 years the church was a member of the Guildford Group of Congregational Churches, but in 1972, when the Congregational Churches in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England joined to become the United Reformed Church of England and Wales, the Wonersh Church became an independent United Reformed Church.
In July 2025 it was announced that Wonersh United Reformed Church would cease its services and other activities on 19 October 2025, ending 145 years of significant contributions to the community of Wonersh. This was a decision prompted by attendances which had fallen to unsustainably low levels.
The final service, which was held on 19 October 2025, was very well-attended. A recording of the service is still available on the URC page.
From its ecumenical work to its close association with Wonersh Scouts, the book stalls at the Summer Fair; the annual ‘Songs of Praise on the Lawn’; Carol Concerts; the Wednesday Film Nights, and more besides, its closure has left a gaping hole in the religious, community and social life of Wonersh, one that will be difficult to fill.
The closure of the Church was preceded by the departure of Wonersh Pre-school at the end of the summer term.
It was extremely sad to see the old church being slowly emptied prior to disposal.
It is important to note that some items from the church have been retained locally. The large organ (originally installed in the 1930s) is still looking for a new home, but the smaller electric organ is now in with WADS in Wonersh Memorial Hall; some of the audio-visual equipment is in the Wonersh Sports Pavilion (along with the ride-on mower – see opposite). Some locally significant historical documents, photos and pictures are with Wonersh History Society.
The sad and difficult task of closing the church and disposing of as many of the moveable items as possible, was admirably carried out by Graham Hoslett (Minister) and Chris Cozens. A task that was performed speedily, with sensitivity, but with much sadness.
On a slightly more positive note, one URC activity that has continued is the weekly T@3 social gathering that has found a new home at Wonersh Village Club on Thursday afternoons. The Village Club has made the group extremely welcome. The friendly and pleasant atmosphere is accompanied by informal and wide-ranging conversation. There is no agenda, and no restrictions on attending.
At the time of writing there are no indications of what the future may hold for the beautiful Church and surrounding grounds.
Dennis Cruickshank
