High Street Church

High Street Church

The Malpas High Street Church was closed at the end of May 2025 pending the sale of the property.

History
The building was originally founded as an Independent Church in 1815.
Independent churches were ones in which each congregation was autonomous, upholding the principles of independence.
In the 19th century they became known as Congregational Churches.

Congregational Chapel 1864

The picture above dated 1862 is an architects impression of the proposed chapel which is true in detail to the chapel when it was completed, with the dormitories of the Grammar School just visible to the rear of the chapel.

It is not known whether the two properties on the right are a true record of the buildings at that time or just added to enhance the picture.
There is no view of Prospect House to the right which was built around 1795 by John Vaughan to house a Grammar School.

Congregational Chapel 1994

The old chapel was a multi purpose building with large rooms upstairs and down stairs where many social functions took place including. Whist and Beetle drives, amateur dramatics, film shows, etc.

It was used by the scouts and guides and other many local organisations, and I recall attending a number of the Malpas Vintage Machinery Association meetings in the early 1970's.

The Chapel Organ

At the time, it was a solid substantial we'll built property with most of the faults being cosmetic as the result of lack of ongoing maintenance. Local resident Bill Coffin recalls working on the building doing general repairs.

The Chapel had two parallel aisles, and this apparently caused some difficulties when bringing coffins in and out of the building at funerals.

Chapel Entrance Arch

Rear entrance showing the Manse which was the rectory for the chapel.

Eventually in the early 1990's, citing that dry rot setting in, a decision was made to demolish the chapel and build a brand new modern church.

Internal View of the old Chapel

The last remains of the old chapel

The existing church is a modern building completed in 1995 and was being used up until May 2025 for religious services and to host meetings for a number of community groups and organisations.

Roof Trusses

The Malpas Elim Community Church launched in September 2010 were using the building until around 2022.

The building finally closed its doors in May 2025, just 30 years after its construction.

Article by Chris Whitehurst
18th September 2025