Hatfield Heath United Reformed Church

A local congregation of the United Reformed Church

Hatfield Heath United Reformed church was founded in 1665 by John Warren, who in 1662 had been ejected from the vicarage of Hatfield Broad Oak. He was licensed in 1672 as a Congregational minister. In 1680 members of his congregation, including Lady Barrington, were fined for attending a conventicle in the house of Anne Parker.

After Warren's removal to Bishop's Stortford in 1690 his work was continued by James Small, a former chaplain to the Barrington's, who remained until 1704. The meeting house at Hatfield Heath was enlarged in his time.

The congregation numbered 300 in 1716, but by 1724 the meeting house was so dilapidated that the congregation moved to temporary quarters in a barn.

In 1725 they leased another building, on the site of the present church. The freehold of the new meeting house was bought in 1730, and a manse was built soon after. The church declined in the mid-18th century, but was revived by Samuel Gaffee, pastor 1780-1809, who enlarged the building c. 1788. During the ministry of Cornelius Berry, 1811- 64, a British school, was opened.

The church, again enlarged in 1829, had a congregation of about 500 in 1851, and was rebuilt in 1875. Hatfield Heath joined the United Reformed church in 1972.

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