Harlow, Essex

Harlow on Wikipedia.

Harlow was built as a new town on land from five parishes - the ancient parish churches are as follows - Great Parndon (St. Mary the Virgin), Little Parndon (St. Mary), Netteswell (St. Andrew), Latton (St. Mary the Virgin), and Harlow (St. Mary). 

Bangladesh Islamic Cultural Centre on the east side of Harberts Road, as seen by Streetview in 2010. TL 4403 0950. Their website (as of July 2024) announces their intended move to a new home (which they have bought), a former pub, the White Horse (2022 Streetview) on London Road and Potter Street. TL 4740 0846.

Baptist Church on Fore Street. A Streetview from 2014 - zoom in for the original chapel in the background. TL 4708 1140. Link. Grade II listed, which only dates it to the mid-19th century.

Another Baptist Church (2022 Streetview) stands on Potter Street and Southern Way. Founded in 1662, the church is dated 1756, and is grade II listed. TL 4728 0868. The church hall (2022 Streetview) is just a short distance away on Southern Way, and also seems to be used for services. TL 4724 0868. Link.

Bethel Prayer Fellowship International (Malayalee Pentecostal) meets at Tye Green Community Centre (2020 Streetview) on the north side of Tilegate Road, at TL 4596 0877. Link.

Catholic Church of the Assumption (2022 Streetview), at the corner of High Street and Old Road. Another 2022 Streetview. TL 4769 1158. Link. The history page dates it to the early 1950's.

Church Langley Church and Community Centre (2022 Streetview) stands at the north end of a Tesco car park on Minton Lane. The church website says its congregation consists of Anglican, Baptist, Methodist and U.R.C. worshippers. TL 4721 0981. Link.

The former Church of Pentecost (2022 Streetview) on the west side of Harberts Road was formerly (and built as?) Trinity U.R.C. According to this news story (which includes a small photo of the interior), the last service was held in late 2021. Another dates it to the mid-20th century, which accords with map evidence. It was being offered for sale in 2023. Another view from the rear of the church on Hare Street in 2009. TL 4395 0959.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, which stands on  Sherwood House (a road), as seen by Streetview in 2018. TL 4585 0863. Link.

Faizane e Medina Masjid (2022 Streetview) stands on the south side of Hodings Road. It was previously a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. The earliest Streetview of 2009 shows it as such, and it remained so until April 2019 at least. TL 4418 1062. Link.

Freshwaters Christian Fellowship used to meet in the Leah Manning Centre (2022 Streetview) on Park Lane. As I write this in July 2024, the church website is still available, and announces the church's closure. TL 4490 1054. The church also seems to have met previously in YCT House (2022 Streetview) on Maddox Road. TL 4521 1027.

The recently closed Friends' Meeting House on Church Leys, as seen by Streetview in 2020. Unlike many Friends' buildings, it's not very old, post-dating a map of 1960. It's now used as a community centre. TL 4559 0909.

Gateway Freedom Church, on Maddox Road and Fishers Hatch, seen by Streetview in 2022 when signage for David Livingstone U.R.C. was still in place. The building post-dates a map of 1960. TL 4531 1018. Link. The church had previously been in the former St. Luke (see below) on Perry Road from circa 2000, moving in to the adjacent Gateway Centre in 2004, and to their present building in or soon after 2020.

GodCentral Pemberley currently meets in Pemberley Academy (2022 Streetview) on Hodings Road TL 4425 1064. Link. The About Us page notes an additional two meeting locations - the Playhouse Theatre (2023 Streetview) from 2010-2017, and Cineworld Cinema (2017-2019). There are two of the latter in Harlow and which one they used isn't specified, but it's likely to have been the one in The Harvey Centre (2022 Streetview). Please correct me this is wrong!

Another GodCentral Newhall congregation meets at Newhall Primary Academy (2021 Streetview) on Roundhouse Way. TL 4783 1045. Link.

God's Tabernacle meets in Unit 6, Wych Elm. It was seen by Streetview in 2022 - the entrance door is the wooden one beneath the sloping roof, partly covered by the black car. TL 4434 1027. Facebook.

The site (now housing, 2016 Streetview) of a demolished Gospel Hall on Hare Street. Initially a wooden building, it was replaced in brick in 1914. TL 4392 0963. It had been preceded by a meeting at Burnt Mill, Netteswell, from sometime in the 1890's. This shows on Station Road on a map of 1897 at TL 4500 1114. The road layout has changed completely since then, and its site, seen by Streetview in 2014, is now off School Lane.

Harefield Independent Church on Momples Road, as seen by Streetview in 2016. TL 4638 1019. Link. The About page dates the church to 1954, though whether this is the date of the present building isn't clear.

Harlow Islamic Centre (2022 Streetview), off Paringdon Road. TL 4388 0763. Link.

Harlow Jewish Community Synagogue (2022 Streetview) stands on the west side of Harberts Road. TL 4395 0918. Link.

The former Harlowbury Chapel stands on Old Road at TL 4772 1206. Originally the chapel for the nearby Harlowbury Manor, t's dated in its grade I listing to the later 12th century. Streetview has seen it only distantly (the best in 2019), but Geograph has a better photo here. Link1. Link2.

Holy Cross (R.C.) on Tracyes Road as seen by Streetview in 2022. The church website dates it to 1962-3. It also says that "in 2002, Holy Cross and St Luke’s joined together". For St. Luke, see below. TL 4657 0861.

Jubilee Church meets in Queensgate Cineworld (2022 Streetview). TL 4559 1164. Link.

The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Parnall Road was seen by Streetview in 2021. TL 4460 0806.

Kingsmoor Christian Centre (2012 Streetview) on Parndon Wood Road. Lighthouse (Elim Pentecostal) meet here. The church website says that Lighthouse congregation was former in 2009 by the uniting of "CRC Harlow, Hope Church and Kingsmoor Community Church", the latter of which was the incumbent of the present church building. TL 4416 0731.

A converted former Mission Room stands on School Lane at TL 4500 1115. Various maps indicate a building date between 1874 and 1895, with closure between 1947 and 1955. Streetview provides views from 2009 - 1, 2.

O.S. maps mark Monastery (Site of) at Little Parndon, at TL 4331 1034. It's listed here as Great Parndon Abbey (Premonstratensian). If the map is accurate, the abbey stood beyond the low buildings seen here in a Streetview from 2022.

Oakwood Chapel (Evangelical) stands on the west side of Hobtoe Road. The church website dates the church to the early 1960's. TL 4363 1046. Two Streetviews are both from 2022 - 1, 2.

Our Lady of Fatima (R.C.) stands at the junction of First Avenue and Howard Way. Two Streetviews from 2023 - 1, 2. TL 4574 1081. The church website now calls the church Our Lady of Fatima and St. Thomas More, following the recent merger of their respective congregations. It's not clear if St. Thomas More (for which see below) remains open. Newspaper report on its listing being upgraded. Grade II* listed, wherein it's dated to 1958-60. Interior photos are included.

Parndon Wood Crematorium (2017 Streetview) off Parndon Wood Road. TL 4435 0685. Link.

Redeemed Christian Church of God Lord's Vine Harlow on Mowbray Road, as seen by Streetview in 2009. Another Streetview, from 2022. TL 4636 1115. Link says it was "established in 2003", though whether it was in the same building is unclear.

Sacred Heart Convent (R.C.) has had at least two buildings over the years (if you know of others, please let me know). First is the Victorian building on High Street called The Wayre (2019 Streetview, and another from 2022), labelled as Sacred Heart Convent on a large scale map surveyed in 1964. It isn't so named on one from 5 years later. TL 4740 1158. Grade II listed. Their present home is The Gowers (2019 Streetview) on Muskham Road. TL 4654 1092. Link.

The former St. Andrew on Waterhouse Moor, Tye Green, was formerly the parish church for Netteswell. Some years after the consecration of St. Stephen, Tye Green (for which, see below), St. Andrew was made redundant (final service in 1983) and converted for educational use as Harlow Study Centre (link). Streetview doesn't have the best views (e.g. in 2009 - 1, 2), but Geograph has good photos - 1, 2. TL 4560 0934. Grade I listed, which dates it to the 13th century. Potter's House Christian Fellowship Church (Pentecostal) also meets here.

St. Andrew (Methodist) stands at the junction of Howard Way and The Stow at TL 4587 1059. Seen by Streetview in 2022, the history page of the church website dates it to 1953-4. Before this the congregation had met in the nearby Moot House (2022 Streetview) on The Stow. It seems to be the same building as is labelled as Vicarage on older O.S. maps.

The former St. Barnabas (2018 Streetview), which stands on the east side of Hare Springs. Shown on a map surveyed in 1965, it's now Harlow Youth Centre, and has been in secular use since before the earliest Streetview visit in 2009. TL 4399 0959.

The former St. John the Baptist on Market Street, now used as an Arts and Recreation Centre. Its grade II listing dates it to 1839. This source dates its redundancy to 1979. Streetviews aren't very satisfactory, but here are two, from 2022 and 2014. A decent photo here. TL 4707 1162.

St. Luke (R.C.) used to stand on Perry Road, at TL 4438 0799. An old map shows that it had been built by 1968, and it had been demolished before the first visit of the Streetview van in 2009, when its site can be seen, running parallel to the road at the right hand side. See also Holy Cross, above. Also visible in the Streetview is the Gateway Centre (the long low building) - see also

St. Mary (2022 Streetview) off Churchgate Street is largely of a mid-Victorian restoration. Lots of photos here, including the interior. TL 4826 1145. Link. Grade II listed, as is also its lych-gate, dated to 1880.

St. Mary on Parndon Mill Lane, Little Parndon, as seen by Streetview in 2019. The congregation has now joined with that of St. Paul (q.v.) in the city centre. There is also a Romanian congregation here (link). TL 4387 1101. Link. Grade II listed, which only dates it to the 19th century - available maps show that it had been built no later than 1874. This source says that it was "completely rebuilt in the 1860s".

St. Mary Magdalene (C) on Church Road, Potter Street, as seen by Streetview in 2020, and another from 2021. TL 4726 0845. Link. Some photos here, and another here. Grade II listed wherein it's dated to 1893. The church website history page advises that it was successor on the same site to an earlier church of circa 1834, some fragments of which are incorporated into the later church.

St. Mary the Virgin on Peldon Road, Great Parndon. Not seen by Streetview, a photo of the church can be seen here. TL 4321 0891. Link. Grade I listed.

St. Mary the Virgin (C) at Latton, a medieval former parish church. Streetviews in 2009 and 2021. TL 4639 1088. Link and history page have interior views, and there are good photos here. Grade I listed.

St. Michael used to stand on Maddox Road, Fisher's Hatch. The housing built on its site was seen by Streetview in 2022, though the church stood a little further back from the road. Post-dating a map of 1960, it had been built by 1964. This source shows that the housing had been built by 2014. TL 4536 1010.

St. Paul (2023 Streetview) on College Square. TL 4450 0980. Link. Grade II listed, wherein it's dated to 1957-9.

St. Stephen the Martyr on Tawneys Road, Tye Green, as seen by Streetview in 2019. Howard Richter has advised that the Essex Record Office dates its consecration to 1964. The same source also advises that the church hall was dedicated in 1957, so presumably used for services before the church was completed. TL 4574 0873. Link.

St. Thomas More (R.C.) on Hodings Road, as seen by Streetview in 2022. See also Our Lady of Fatima, above. Link1. Link2, wherein it's dated to 1964-5, having been preceded by what is now the church hall of 1964, and a temporary church of 1958.

Salvation Army Church and Community Centre is on Tendring Road. Two Streetviews from 2022 - 1, 2. TL 4484 0877. Link.

The Harlow Seventh-day Adventist Church meets in two locations. First is Hare Street & Little Parndon Community Centre (2022 Streetview), on the west side of Harberts Road at TL 4406 0977. The second is (or was - is it still active?) at Kingsmoor Academy (2021 Streetview) on Ployters Road. TL 4420 0772. Link.

The Bridge Church (Redeemed Christian Church of God) as seen by Streeetview in 2022. It stands on Purford Green and Manor Hatch at TL 4648 0907. Link.

The Kings Church (Katherines and Sumners) on Red Willow, as seen by Streetview in 2022. TL 4270 0833. Link.

Unity Church Harlow (2022 Streetview) stands on Minchen Road and Blackbush Spring. TL 4610 1029. Facebook.

The site (the main entrance was about where the red car is, 2016 Streetview) of a demolished Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on what was Station Road, now Station Approach. Pre-dating a map of 1897, it was still active (presumably as Methodist) into the 1950's at least. TL 4458 1118.

A surviving Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (converted) stands on High Street at TL 4761 1161. Seen by Streetview in 2022, Geograph has two photos from 2004 when it was still active (and presumably Methodist) - 1, 2. Dating from 1886, it was closed sometime between 2004 and 2009.