The Churches of Britain and Ireland

Ware, Hertfordshire            

Ware on Wikipedia.

Numerous Ware church photos here.


The Brethren's Meeting Room on Wadesmill Road was seen by Streetview in 2009. A relatively recent build, the earliest map to show it is of the 1973-4 vintage. TL 2550 1585.

The Carmelite Monastery of Our Alone Saviour and the Blessed Virgin Mary (a nunnery) hasn't been seen by Streetview, but numerous photos are available here. The history page dates it to 1958, in a pre-existing building, though it was founded in Hatfield in 1925, moving to Hitchin in 1938. It also has illustrations of the Hatfield and Hitchin establishments. TL 3405 1450.

The former Catholic Apostolic Church (1856), was seen by Streetview in 2009 and 2017. It has been converted to residential use. TL 2604 1465.

The cemetery on Westmill Road has two Mortuary Chapels, joined approximately in a "T" shape. The southerly one is labelled on a map of 1892-1914 as Ch. of England, the northerly one as Nonconformist. TL 3495 1499. The grade II listing dates them to 1854-5. Now disused and converted to housing, they were glimpsed by the Streetview van in 2016.

Christ Church (1858-9) on New Road was seen by Streetview in 2010. TL 3600 1439. Link. Grade II listed.

Christadelphian Hall on Church Street, as seen by Streetview in 2018. Older maps show that it was originally a fire station, and it has also been an Assemblies of God Pentecostal Church. TL 3576 1445. Link.

The Friends once had a Meeting House off Kibes Lane. It's marked on a map of 1880, but had been demolished by 1897. An old directory says it had been closed in 1864 and demolished in 1881. The adjacent former burial ground survives as a garden, seen by Streetview in 2014. The meeting house would have stood at the front left of the garden. TL 3603 1426.

A Gospel Hall on Collet Road was seen by Streetview in 2009. It was subsequently demolished, and a block of flats built in its place, seen here in 2017. TL 3586 1475.

The former Independent Chapel of 1778 stands on Church Street. The Streetview van passed by in 2018, when it had been, or was about to be, converted into flats. An old directory lists its uses after it was closed in 1918 as "church hall, Masonic Hall, United Services Club, auction room and printing works". Its first minister was William Godwin, father of Mary Godwin, later Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. TL 3576 1446. Link. Grade II listed.

Leaside Church (Methodist and U.R.C.) stands off High Street. Only the access passage can be seen on Streetview, here in 2010. Originally Independent, a splinter from the Church Street Independent (for which, see above), its grade II listing dates it to 1816, later re-built (1858-9) as Congregational. TL 3686 1434. Link, and a history. More photos here.

A Mission Hall once stood on Amwell End, at TL 3592 1410. An old directory dates it to 1883. Its date of demolition is not known so far, but it was replaced by shops at some point, seen here by Streetview in 2016 (the two left-most shops).

Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Joseph (R.C.), which stands on King Edward's Road and New Road, was seen by Streetview in 2017. Building started in 1938, but wasn't completed until the 1960's, when a sanctuary and baptistery were added. A hall was added in 2016 (dating details from here, where numerous photos can also be found). TL 3602 1456. Link.

St. Mary, the parish church on Church Street, dates from the 13th century. It was seen by Streetview in 2018. Again, lots of photos here. TL 3567 1443. Link. Grade I listed.

The recently closed Salvation Army Hall stands on Baldock Street. First labelled as such on a map of 1923, a 2017 Streetview shows a date-stone for 1907. This source (several photos) says it was closed in 2019.  TL 3559 1443.

Springs Christian Fellowship (Assemblies of God, since 1978) was originally a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. Built in 1839 and extended in 1886, it was re-fronted in 1906. Dating details are from here. Seen here by Streetview in 2016. TL 3596 1437. Link.

The former Ware Priory (Franciscan Friary), has, since the dissolution, been used as a house, offices, community centre, and a restaurant. Founded in 1338, fabric is believed to survive from that date, though the building has of course been extensively re-modelled over the centuries. It was seen by Streetview in 2016. Foundations of a likely Friary Church have been found in a position consistent with the usual layout of a Franciscan Friary - the building stood on the parking area behind the flower tubs. TL 3555 1430. Link. Grade I listed.

Western House (1839-40, now flats) is the former Ware Workhouse, and although it is known to have had a chaplain, a chapel isn't indicated on any maps. Streetview saw it in 2009. TL 3595 1477. Grade II listed.

The now-demolished Zoar Particular Baptist Chapel stood off New Road at TL 3606 1465. Pre-dating a map of 1880, it seems to have survived into the 1960's at least. The site itself hasn't been seen by Streetview, but the alleyway leading to it has, in 2017. The church at the right is the former Catholic Apostolic Church.

 

 

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04 March 2023

© Steve Bulman

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