United Reformed Church

There is no record of the formation of a (URC) church at Debenham although a congregation seems to have met there since the 1660's.

The first stone of the present church was laid in 1820 and the present Manse and Lecture Hall or Schoolroom in 1869.

See Hosken "History of Congregationalism in Suffolk pages 263 - 268, Ref S 285 (Suffolk Record Office at Ipswich).

This image is taken from a Postcard, posted in the 1920's.

1851 - Census of Religious Worship

The following information is taken from the 1851 Census of Religious Worship. Reference No 476 Page 88.

Independent Chapel, Front Street. Erected before 1800.

Sittings free 350; others 650.

Present morning 300 + 118 scholars; afternoon 540 + 124 scholars; evening 358.

Remarks The minister being absent through indisposition, normal evening service was not held. There is a Bible Class, Singing Class, Clothing Club, and Lending Library connected with Sabbath school and young people of congregation, and a Book Society for benefit of adult members of congregation.

Signed N. M. Steptoe, Deacon; H. Abbott, Samuel Drury, witnesses (8).

Birth and Baptism register dates from 1706; old meeting house there in 1788; new chapel's foundation stone laid 1820. Affiliated to Suffolk Congregational Union. [R, p.85; B, p.492; CYB, (1851), p.150.]

Previous Incumbents

Previous incumbents at the Chapel have included the following:

1662 - John King, for 8 years
- Dr. Steward, for 12 years
- Rev. Kervin Wright, for 35 years
- Mr. Chorley, "did not stay long"
- Rev. T. Stanton, for 12 years
- Rev. John Godwin, for 2 years
1742 - Rev. R. Lewis, for 2 years
1771 - Rev. John Owen, for 31 years
1819 - Mr. George Pearce, for 2 years
- Rev. W. Hurn
1836 - Rev. Thomas James, for 13 years
1844 - Rev. Thomas James (taken from 1844 White's Suffolk Directory)
1851 - Rev. Wm Smith, for less than 1 year
- Rev. J. P. Simpson, for 6 months
1854 - Rev. Charles Talbot, for 22 years
1869 - Rev. Charles Talbot (taken from 1869 Post Office Suffolk Directory)
1877 - Rev. Abraham Jackson, for 1 year
1881 - Rev. J. Connell, for 13 months
- Rev. J. G. Murray, for 4 years
1888 - Rev. Theophilus Devine, for 11 years
1892 - Rev. Theophilus Devine (taken from 1892 Kelly's Suffolk Directory)
1899 - Mr. Batcock, for 14 years
1900 - Rev. William Batcock, Manse (taken from 1900 Kelly's Suffolk Directory)
1912 - Rev. William Batcock, Manse (taken from 1912 Kelly's Suffolk Directory)
1914 - Rev. Daniel Clayton, for 5 years
1919 - Rev. W. D. Hayward, for 6 years
1926 - Rev. S. W. Kitchiner, for 6 years
1933 - Rev. Raymond Jubb, for 6 years
1941 - Rev. Charles H. Newland

Except where indicated above, all names, dates and period of tenure are taken from "Debenham Congregational Church - A Short History" by the Rev. Charles H. Newland