Ramsden Street
United Reformed Church

The Church was founded in 1864 by a group of Whitehaven fishermen who moved to Walney Island. They joined the Churches of Christ and some years later moved into the town centre.

Membership was gained by Believer's Baptism whilst there was a service of Thanksgiving and Blessing for infants.

In 1915 the present building was bought from the Railway Mission. This consisted of the Church and a small kitchen/boiler room and an outside toilet and coal shed.

In 1972 a small extension was built - our Community Room, kitchen and toilets.

In 1981 the Church, along with the majority of the Churches of Christ, joined the United Reformed Church. There are now additional services of Infant Baptism and Confirmation available.

Along with Dalton Community Church, Ramsden Street was part of the South West Cumbria United Area of Methodist and United Reformed Churches. A close relationship between the Churches developed.

A Celebration Service was held on September 20th 2010 when a representative from each of the Churches signed a 'Declaration of our Unity' document. A new logo was designed for all the Churches to use.

The United Area ceased in 2025.

The organ in our Church is an organola and originally belonged to the last Bishop of Barrow who lived in Aldingham Hall - now a Residential Care Home.

We have several rolls which can be played. They are mostly hymns and Christmas Carols but we do have the 1812 Overture and Dvorak's Humoresque.

Since the electric motor was added many years ago, it is now possible for the rolls to be played without anyone having to use the pedals.