Clitheroe URC

We are located at the top of Moor Lane in the centre of a pleasant East Lancashire market town. The town has; plenty of history (Clitheroe Castle, Pendle Witches, etc), lovely scenery (Pendle Hill, River Ribble, Trough of Bowland) and lots of interesting shops and places to eat & relax. The church too is part of that history.

The first Congregational Church in Clitheroe was erected in Shaw Bridge Street in 1815 and the current building had its foundation stone laid on 18th April 1862. The church was built at a total cost of £4,700, leaving a debt of £1,150 remaining after opening. This was due to a change of plan to use more expensive local limestone; this has resulted however in the building having an interesting collection of fossils in the stonework as well as reflecting the local grey limestone.

The church is a bi century church celebrating the 1662 Great Ejection from the Church of England. The view from the south side of the church is of Pendle Hill with strong links to the growth of the non conformist church. In his autobiography, George Fox described a vision on Pendle Hill in 1652, during the early years of the Quakers. Also Revd Thomas Jollie preached from a small farm at Wymondhouses at the foot of Pendle Hill in 1662, bringing Congregationalism to the area.

The church has a multi purpose worship area. There is a communion chair and furniture with names of church people lost in the First and Second World Wars and two small old pews made from preaching pulpit used by Revd Thomas Jollie at farm in Wymondhouses in 1662 following his ejection from the Anglican church. There is a rose window on the east elevation but it is partially obscured by old pipe organ.

The register of baptisms includes the entry ‘CLITHEROE James Robinson born 24 December 1921 to James Robert and Emma (nee Pye) baptised 22 January 1922 by Herbert W Hard’. James Jnr is better known as the comedian Jimmy Clitheroe or The Clitheroe Kid.

While the outside of the church remains its original look we at the church (with help from the National Churches Trust and other grant givers) have tried to make the church welcoming and accessible.

Please call, we would love to give you a warm Christian welcome.