The Story of Stockton Unitarians
History of Unitarians in Stockton
There has been a liberal religious worshipping community in Stockton since 1688. The congregation first met in a room in Bolton House Yard, Thistle Green, Stockton-on-Tees.
Thistle Green is the same room where in 1770, 82 years afterward John Wesley founded a methodist Congregation.
1699:
Our first chapel, shown in the engraving, was built in Stockton High Street. This Meeting House paved the way for other non conformist places of worship to be established in the town, because our forebears challenged the orthodox thinking of the day. An organ was installed in 1835, which contained two barrels, each barrel played twelve tunes. When this organ was installed a total of 24 tunes satisfied the musical aspirations of the congregation.
1873:
To accommodate a growing congregation and expanding Sunday School a new church in Wellington Street was built. Designed by J P Prachett of Darlington, who also was the architect of Huddersfield station. The building contained a memorial to James Crowe 1825. James Crow was responsible for the new cut in the River Tees in 1809.
1969:
In 1969 both the Middlesbrough and Stockton Unitarian congregations joined together as one church.
29th September 2007:
To meet the needs of the present congregation the Victorian building was demolished in 2006 and replaced by an eco-friendly building on the same site. Designed by Stephen John Dodds, Architect of SJD Designs. It was officially opened in September 2007 by the Mayor of Stockton, Councillor William Noble.