A Brief history of the Free Church in St Ives

The church has produced a short leaflet covering the information below. Click here to view

St Ives Free Church has a long and proud history.
The Church, founded in the 17th Century, is one of the oldest Reformed churches in England. From 1631-36 Oliver Cromwell lived in the town. As well as attending the Parish Church  he "more frequently and publickly owned himself a Teacher and did preach in other men's houses as well as his own house according to his brotherhood agreed and appointed". The Free Church traces its origins back to this period.

In 1641/2 Parliament appointed Job Tookey as Lecturer in St. Ives.
It is after him that Tookeys, our Coffee Bar, is named.
 
 
Cromwell still looks down
over the centre of St Ives
In 1691 soon after the passing of the Toleration Act, a licence was applied for and granted for a Presbyterian Meeting House and the first church building was opened in 1693. This continued in use until 1811 when a new chapel was born on the same site. the new building was called the Independent Chapel, this name symbolises a break with previous Presbyterian loyalties. During the b18th century the majority of Presbyterian congregations had become Unitarian. The St Ives congregation was not prepared to take this route and decided to leave the Presbyterian denomination and align itself with other Independent Churches whose beliefs were similar to their own.
 
The present Church building (seen in this photograph) on Market Hill was opened in 1864 and extensively renovated internally in 1980.
The Church still stands in the Reformed tradition and since 1972 has been part of the United Reformed Church (Congregational -Presbyterian) in England and Wales.
The Churches (Disciples) of Christ united with the URC in 1982 and the Scottish Congregational Church also joined in 2001. As part of this wider denomination St Ives Free Church is committed to seek the full unity of Christ's Church, and to take whatever steps are open to it to this end.