Formerly Vicar of St. Peter’s Church, St. Albans.

He lost his living by refusing the sign the Act of Uniformity in 1662. On Charles II issuing his Declaration of Indulgence in 1672, he came to Hertford as our first minister. His ministry began under Charles II, lasted through the second Stuart period under James II, saw the coming of William of Orange, and ended in the reign Queen Anne.

He was a resident of Hertford. His twenty-two year ministry at the Hertford Congregational church was a great success. Some eighty members joined the church during his pastorate. However, he had his  problems. It would seem that morality was at a very low ebb in the eighteenth century, “Christianity in England had almost ceased to count…” (Silvester Horne). It is not surprising that our church passed through a trying period.

Notes of general interest from Church Records under May 28 1735:” Agreed to declare non-membership against X. for not coming to the Church to answer for herself and for other heinous crimes alleged against her, which was accordingly done……. Agreed that Y. and Z. go to A. and charge her with the sin of drunkenness and bad words, and      desire her to abstain from the Lord’s Table till she manifests her repentance.” 43 members were received into the Church.

Although only a short ministry (we have no information about the condition and work of the Church during these years), we do know that 6 new members were added to the Church and that, while at Hertford, Mr. Phené married Sarah Everitt.

We would also have welcomed some reference to current events which led in 1775 to what the historian Green calls ” the darkest hour in English history” – the outbreak of war with America.

For some time the Church was without a minister. “At length, however, in April 1775, the Rev. James Kello came and created so favourable an impression that he was invited to take the services for a period of nine months…” He was accepted for the vacant Pastorate in April 1776 and ordained the following August.

He stayed for five years. Hardly any information is given of this ministry. There were eleven additions to the Church Roll.

The Church removed to Cowbridge. “In the year 1796 the Divine Providence so ordered it that the old meeting-house, a capacious building with a double tier of galleries round three sides of it, and situated near the School of Christ’s Hospital, was pulled down to enlarge the said school…” The building erected on the new site in Cowbridge preceded the present church building. In 1793 there were only 18 members. 35 members joined in Mr. Crisp’s time.

“Dec. 24th, 1801, E. White, discouraged by the treatment of some members of the church, but more by the limited prospect of usefulness which this sphere affords, thought proper this day to give in a resignation of his pastoral office… Although six members were added to the church, yet its condition does not seem to have improved but rather to have become more precarious.”

The Revd. Charles Maslen’s ministry did much to revitalise the Church. The membership roll increased by 55 new members and in 1813 a Sunday School was formed and also an auxiliary of the London Missionary Society. A short time afterwards, between 1815 and 1817, side galleries were added to the chapel at a cost of £200. A Good Samaritan Society came into existence, and in 1823 a chapel was built at Hatfield, of which Mr. Maslen had charge. Five young men were led to enter the Christian Ministry.

During the Revd. Isaac Anthony’s ministry, the Church joined the newly formed General Union of Congregational Churches and Ministers throughout England and Wales. “The work that Mr. Anthony did for the Church can never be estimated. Coming to a cause which had for many years been weak, and at times almost hopeless, and which might have failed completely but for the efforts of his predecessor, he was the Divinely appointed means of making it strong and influential in the town. Great as were the difficulties, Mr. Anthony applied himself to his task with energy and enthusiasm…”

“Twelve months after Mr. Bowhay began his ministry, more accommodation was needed for the greatly increased congregation. Accordingly, the school-room at the rear was taken into the church, the walls of which were raised about two or three feet, and a commodious school-room was built above it for the Sunday School, in which were nearly 300 children. This gave accommodation for 200 more worshippers, and the cost, which exceeded £700, was defrayed within 18 months…” During his nine years ministry 92 members were received into the Church.

“In February 1858, the Revd. William Spencer, who came from Rochdale, became minister of the Church. A serious accident, which befell him on the Hertford and Welwyn railway in 1859, incapacitated him for many months. His ministry lasted for little more than two years and was closed on July 1st, 1860, when he took up work for the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Church was strengthened by the addition of 47 members, which is some index of progress and success.”

“The Revd. James Wonnacott, of Morley, near Leeds, commenced his ministry on December 2nd, 1860, and began to draw large congregations by his able and eloquent preaching.” During his ministry, land adjoining the church was acquired and the church building itself was demolished and replaced with the present church. Most of it stands on the old site, but part on the new ground. Originally, the church was built to accommodate 650 worshippers. During Mr. Wonnacott’s ministry, the Church Roll records the admission of 92 persons.

“In July 1867, the Revd. William Manchee was invited to and accepted the pastoral office (at Hertford), commencing his duties two months later. A strenuous and successful effort was made in 1870 to extinguish the debt on the church. Interest had evidently been maintained in the work of the Sunday School, for in 1874 its numerical strength was 23 teachers and 176 scholars. The Church Roll records the addition of 34 names. Mr. Manchee resigned in May 1872, with the intention of taking up missionary work in Madagascar.”

The Revd. Robert E. Forsaith “was well known to the people, having often preached their anniversary sermons during the previous twenty-five years; and it was thought from his age, experience, and standing in the ministry, and from his general acceptance as a preacher, that he would be a suitable person to become their pastor and would be likely under the Divine blessing to build up again the Church and Congregation that had been brought down so low.”

The Revd. B. T. Hallowes’ pastorate was a busy one. “In 1887, deacons and a church secretary were appointed. In the year 1888 a site known as Cowbridge Yard, adjoining the church, was purchased with a view to the erection of a Church Hall and Sunday School. The necessity for more adequate Sunday School accommodation, in a building which would also be suitable for services and social meetings, had long been felt. The British Schools had hitherto been the only place of meeting. The building was opened on April 6th, 1892…” 100 persons joined the church.

Mr. Handley was minister of the Church for 15 years and 162 members were admitted by him. “His activities extended beyond the Church to the town, where he interested himself in everything that concerned the well-being of the people. His kind and generous heart never failed to respond to the appeals of those who required advice or assistance, and it is no exaggeration to say that he was beloved by all who knew him. It is well to mention that for a long time Mr. Handley was superintendent of the Sunday School and leader of the Ladies’ Working Meeting…”, besides assisting in other areas.

“Mr. Whitmee was an eloquent preacher who, unfortunately, was often handicapped by indifferent health. It was during his pastorate that the Church obtained, at a cost of £525, a fine new organ, which was built by Mr. T. C. Lewis, of London, and opened in July, 1911. The size of the new organ necessitated a re-arrangement of the choir seating, which had previously been in the organ gallery. New raised seats were provided at right angles to the pews and on the west side of the pulpit…A Young People’s Institute was formed in 1912…The Church Roll records the addition of 47 names.”

“The Revd. Frank Johnson, Editor of the Sunday School Chronicle and a member of the Church performed the duties of the pastoral office until the Revd. R. O. Skinner was called to the pastorate on New Year’s Sunday, 1916. Church membership at the time numbered 96, but owing to the exigencies of the War the effective strength was below this figure, while the congregations were relatively small. The new minister applied himself with energy and by the end of 1922 a total of 119 new members had been added. The revised Church roll now stood at 171.”

During the Revd. Hayman’s ministry the young people of the church were able to enjoy a number of activities specifically directed to them. Among these was the formation of a League of Service for Sunday School scholars; a Young People’s Social Hour after the Sunday evening service at which many young people of the town attended; also, the Young Peoples Association mid-week meeting was instituted at which various topics were discussed and special speakers engaged. In 1936 an electric blower for the organ was installed. 103 new members joined in this ministry.

The Revd. Richard C. Wood M.A. was ordained and inducted as minister in September 1941. Both the church hall and the manse in North Road were occupied by the Military at this time. In 1944, a site for a new manse was bought in Westfield Road, and the old one sold for £1000. In 1947 the Celebrity Lectures commenced, running in the autumn and winter months. (These were to run for 45 years before closing on 6th April 1992). They were well supported by the other churches and people of the town.123 new members joined, though some moved on after the war.

In November 1951, Revd. William Fenwick moved into the new manse in Westfield Road. New organisations sprung into life: The Young Wives Fellowship, The Men’s Circle, The Cowbridge Fellowship, the Under Fifteen Club, and House Meetings. At a church meeting on 29 Sep. 1954 it was agreed that the choir would sing the Lord’s Prayer using the music specially written by Mr. E. J. Powell, our organist. 62 new members joined the Fellowship during this ministry.

The Revd. ‘Ted’ Parsell, as he was affectionately known, the minister who travelled everywhere on his bicycle, came from Northamptonshire and soon became popular in the district. Additions were made to the weekly programme of the church: the Sunday Evening Fellowship, Guest Services, week night meetings, Bible Study meetings and an annual Lay Preacher’s Sunday were instituted. In 1963 a new oil-fired heating system was installed and a new kitchen and toilets provided in Cowbridge Hall. Revd. Parsell passed away in September 1970. 116 new members joined in his ministry.

At the first Church meeting of this ministry, a decision was taken to accept the Scheme of Union which led to the formation of the United Reformed Church on 5 October 1972. The Tercentenary Anniversary Services were held on June 10th 1973 and followed by a month of special events. Elders started sharing in the pastoral care of the Fellowship. The Manse in Westfield Road was sold and replaced by a smaller one in Grange Close. The Cowbridge Ramblers came into existence and walked the Essex Way (59 miles). 85 new members joined the Fellowship

Ordination and induction of Revd. Paul Snell took place on 12th September 1981. His ministry saw the initiation of a regular transport scheme for the elderly and infirm wanting to attend church. A ‘Drop-in’ centre, for the young unemployed of the town, supported by the Council of Churches, came into existence for a short time. Regular involvement of members in worship. Family services became a regular event. Home Group meetings began. Church refurbishment feasibility studies. Visions for the future considered. 43 new members joined the fellowship.

The ordination and induction of the Revd. Jeanne Ennals took place on 8th July 1989. Move towards regular Elders’ and Church Fellowship days involving prayer and workshops. Involvement with All Nations Christian College developed into a regular feature of church life and of Students’ training. Church objectives and vision for the future were reviewed. Work commenced on the first phase of the church refurbishment programme. ‘Open House’ – a weekly drop-in centre in the church vestibule was started 1992. 35 new members joined the fellowship.

The Revd. Christine Willis was Inducted as minister of Hertford URC on the 6^th December 1997. The newly refurbished church was rededicated on Saturday 19th September 1998. The Fellowship celebrated the new millennium with Hertford Churches Together, and its own special services, a special Millennium Exhibition on our church life and history was staged in June as well as various social events, held in the church. A church hall refurbishment programme was studied. Up to 4th November 2001, 13 new members had joined the fellowship.

The Revd. Derek Jones was inducted as part-time Minister to Hertford on Saturday 21st July 2007. He was also a Minister at Christ Church URC, Hatfield, and had responsibilities in the St Albans Area of the Thames North Synod. Although Minister to two churches, Revd. Jones gave the impression of being in two places at the same time, managing to put in an appearance at both churches on Sunday mornings, even if not taking the Service at one of them. Whilst at Hertford, Derek encouraged a strong prayer life and Bible study, preaching a strong Christian message. The Hall was refurbished and it became an effective addition to the life of the church and to the Community. Derek retired in October 2011 and moved with his wife Rosemary to Ringwood in Hampshire to be near their family.

The Red. David Bradburn was inducted to Hertford URC on the retirement of Revd. Derek Jones. Hertford is one of three churches that form the North Lea Valley Area of Shared Ministry (with Broxbourne and Cheshunt Free URCs) and David was the only Stipendiary Minister in the Area. He lived in Broxbourne. The Hertford Foodbank was formed on 8th April 2013 and this operates from our premises. David oversaw its instigation, continued as Chairman of the Management Committee and took an active role in its operation. Although an ecumenical project it was seen very much as part of Hertford United Reformed Church’s mission to the community. A renewed Prayer Garden at the side of the church underwent construction.

David retired on the 31 December 2018.