| Description | This collection comprises general Cheshire Congregational Union records. These include the articles of association, minutes of annual and executive committee meetings, accounts, deeds, trusts, bequests, speeches and publications, and district records. Some historical notes, newsletters, orders of service, and property records for individual chapels are included. For other chapel records, see the ECC collections. |
| Administrative History | The Cheshire Congregational Union was formed in 1806, at a meeting held at Macclesfield and attended by delegates from congregations across the county. The chief object of the Union was 'the spread of the Gospel in the unevangelised parts of the county by means of itinerant preaching.' It did not 'interfere with the rights of discipline of particular churches' nor could any 'grievance be brought by any church or minister before the Association.' The first Union secretaries were Rev. E. White and Rev. W. Evans.
The Union was sub-divided in 1848, with the formation of Northern and Southern Districts. In 1865 a division into five Districts took place - viz, Chester, Nantwich (substituted for Crewe in 1880), Macclesfield, Stockport and Bowdon. In 1888, the Stockport and Macclesfield districts were amalgamated, and a fifth district was formed out of the churches on the Wirral.
In 1972, a majority of Congregational and Presbyterian churches joined the United Reformed Church, and are now in the Mersey Province. |