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    © Imperial War Museums 2026

    Memorial

    Hatfield Heath Congregational Church WW1

    Hatfield Heath Congregational Chapel WW1 tablet

    Source: Representative of the Congregational Chapel

    1/1

    Current Location

    In the vestibule, United Reformed Church, Chelmsford Road, Hatfield Heath, Uttlesford, Essex, CM22 7BH, England

    OS Grid Reference

    TL 52712 14905

    Denomination

    United Reformed

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    Names listed on this memorial

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    © WMR-97602

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    Type of Memorial
    Board / Plaque / Tablet
    WMR Reference Number
    97602
    Description
    Oval tablet of grey-veined white marble, on which the inscription is in incised black lettering.
    Inscription
    TO/ THE/ GLORY OF GOD/ AND/ IN GRATEFUL/ REMEMBRANCE OF OUR/ MEN WHO FELL IN/ THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918/ (29 names)
    War
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Number Commemorated
    29
    Died
    29
    Information shown
    Initials and surname
    Order of names
    Listed alphabetically by surname, in two columns
    Maintenance History
    The United Reformed Church in Hatfield Heath (formerly the Congregational Church) was Grade II listed on 16/3/2021, List Entry Number 1471558.

    Ceremonies

    Unveiled

    23 January 1921

    Reverend R. C. Jude (resident Minister) unveiled the memorial

    Custodian
    United Reformed Church

    Components

    Tablet

    Made from: Marble - White


    Condition: Good


    Historic England

    Grade: II

    List Entry: 1471558

    • Herts and Essex Observer Saturday 29/1/1921 reported: 'HATFIELD HEATH, DEDICATION OF CONGREGATIONAL MEMORIAL TABLET. - On Sunday a Memorial Tablet (as part of the general Memorial) was unveiled in Hatfield Heath Chapel to the men of the parish who fell in the war. The service and ceremony were conducted by the Rev. R. C. Jude, the resident minister, who preached from the text 1 Kings 8 (17-18): " Whereas it was in thine heart to build a house unto My name, thou didst well that it was in thine heart." The sermon dealt with motives as determining the value of great deeds; and referred to the perseverance of the Jews in building their successive temples. A similar devotion and sacrifice had been shown by brave men in the Great War, who had it in their hearts to build for the good of humanity. The Jews were inspired and encouraged by the example of their fathers; and though all was not yet accomplished for which men gave their lives, future workers for righteousness and peace would find inspiration in the many memorials throughout our land. At the close of the service the large congregation met at the vestibule of the chapel, where the tablet has been placed. The names of the 29 men were read, and the ceremony was closed with prayer'. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003122/19210129/060/0005
  • "Lest We Forget: The First World War Memorials of Uttlesford District", published by Recorders of Uttlesford History, 2014; ISBN 978-1-873669-14-3, page 60, states of the memorial: 'Inside the United Reformed Church there is another memorial, a large oval, blue-grained, white marble tablet with the names of 29 men who died in the Great War'.
  • Details of Historic England's Grade II listing of the United Reformed Church on 16/3/2021 can be found at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1471558 This includes the following information re the history of the Church: 'The original Congregational Church at Hatfield Heath was founded in 1665 by John Warren. It is reported that the building became dilapidated and in 1725 the congregation leased a 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-C18, but was revived by Samuel Gaffee, pastor 1780-1809, who enlarged the building around 1788. During the ministry of Cornelius Berry, 1811-1864, a British school was opened. The church, again enlarged in 1829, had a congregation of about 500 in 1851. The current church was built in 1875, designed by Thomas Lewis Banks (1842-1920), who became a nationally renowned architect. Among his works he went on to design other successful buildings for the Congregationalists in Yeovil, Somerset, in 1878, (NHLE 1056477, listed at Grade II) Newham, East London, in 1880 (NHLE1293483, listed at Grade II), and most notably St James in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1882-1884 (NHLE1024820, listed at Grade II*). The United Reformed Church was first formed in 1972, by a union of the Presbyterian Church of England and the majority of churches in the Congregational Church in England and Wales. It was joined later by the Re-formed Association of the Churches of Christ in 1981, and the Congregational Union of Scotland in 2000. Hatfield Heath joined the United Reformed Church when it was formed in 1972'.