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Church Micro 1827...Castle Hill URC Ipswich Multi-Cache

Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:





********** Well done to Teamcairney FTF twice !!!! **********

Cache is not at the location listed as Church is close to School. Cache is only around 2 minutes walk from Church. Castle Hill URC Church is a modern Church on a housing estate so is a little different from the normal CM - some stealth will be required for the final Cache as it's in a built up area.



Look for Foundation stone under Cross (A)=day in October when it was laid and the year 195(B)so fill in the A & B in the co ordinates below


N 52° 04.96(B) E 001° 0(A).512


The final cache is close to a road so be careful


Castle Hill United Reformed Church, Ipswich is a modern, lively church located in the centre of Castle Hill, Henley Rise and on the doorstep of Whitton. The church was established in 1957 and its unique "tent-like" design and concrete construction is classified as Grade 2 listed. Castle Hill URC is an active church with room for up to 150 people to attend the regular Sunday family worship, as well as a Sunday Club for children. The church is pastorally linked to Saxmundham United Reformed Church and has an active twinship with a church in Mussbach, Germany that results in annual exchange visits for family and youth groups.

Minister Rev Pam Smith

History

In 1954 the Ipswich Congregational Council, represented by the Revd J M Vick of the then Crown Street Congregational Church, instructed architects to proceed with the Castle Hill Church building project. This followed the drive and dedication of Free Church people in the town and the willingness of the Borough Council to allocate a site for a church on each of the town's large housing estates. .

On 6 October 1956 the church, which cost £16,181 11s 2d to build, was officially opened. Located on the edge of the newly extended Whitton housing estate the church looked mainly over a landscape of fields, ponds, crops, trees and rough playing areas. The location of the church is testament to the foresight of its planners because today it is strategically placed opposite a primary school and at the centre of a large, mixed housing development. In 1976 a new extension was added at a cost of £26,210.09. The extension is used by both the church and the local community and houses a Sports Hall, Common Room and modern kitchen.

The church's unique "tent-like" design and concrete construction led to it being classified as a Grade 2 listed building in 1998. But the design of the building is not its only unique feature. The church houses a rare 1930s cinema organ. This arrived in 1969 following an agreement between the church members and the Ipswich Light Organ Society to install the three-manual "Christie" concert organ within the church. Manufactured in 1935, the organ had been removed from a cinema in Clacton. This has led to a very close partnership between the church and the society. Now the rich tones of this superb instrument enhance both worship and the monthly organ concerts held inside the church building.

In 1985, the church entered into twinship with a church in Mussbach, Germany. This has developed into a close association with both formal and informal exchange visits taking place each year.

The Ministers

Miss Evelyn M Allford: 6 October 1956 until end of 1959 Trained as a "Home Missionary", Evelyn left to begin married life in the Merseyside area. She returned to take part in Castle Hill's 50th Anniversary celebrations in May 2007.

Revd Don Reekie: 17 September 1960 until 3 January 1965 Don and his family left to prepare for Missionary work in Niuè, South Pacific.

Revd Brian T Sturtridge: 16 July 1966 until 1969 Brian left to take charge of two churches in rural Cambridgeshire and has now retired.

Revd Frances Chambers: 30 January 1971 until 1986 Frances retired to Worcester and kept in regular contact with our church until her death in February 2003.

Revd Richard J Mortimer: 4 April 1987 to 1995 Richard left to become part-time Minister to Wroxham URC in Norfolk, assisting the Moderator of Eastern Province in pastoral work within Norfolk district. He was appointed Deputy General Secretary of the United Reformed Church early in 2009.

Revd Cecil E White: 29 June 1996 to 1 June 2008 Cecil left to take up a chaplaincy at Leeds University. He still keeps in regular contact with our church. Cecil’s wife, Revd Samantha (Sam) White was called to the Ministry while worshipping at Castle Hill URC. Sam now serves a group of churches in the Bury St. Edmunds area of Suffolk.


If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication


To view the church micro stats page, please click here

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

.... zntargvp 35zz Gho ghpxrq whfg bhg bs fvgr ...

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)