United Reform Church in Longham on the market for £675,000

The United Reform Church in Ham Lane, at the double mini roundabouts, has been put up for sale for £675,000. 

The Grade II listed church and two halls were put on the market due to a dwindling and ageing congregation. 

Difficulty in maintaining the church was also blamed as a reason to put the church on the market, according to Revd Dr Romilly Micklem, convener of the URC Wessex Synod Trust. 

According to Estate agent Proplistm, the property was constructed in 1841 as a church with white brickwork in Flemish Bond with yellow brick arches and dressings of Portland Stone.

It features Stucco work, a pitched slate roof and round-headed feature windows with arched recesses and stone cills.  

The agents say: “The main entrance is in Tuscan porch style with brick pillars and plain stone columns supported on three steps leading to the feature entrance doors.  

“Above the gable is a slender bell turret with a square base and an octagonal panelled middle stage with clock and an octagonal upper stage recessed behind columns, the top being crowned with a slim octagonal copper-covered spire.” 

Read more: Longham preschool may cease to exist after church closes its doors

It was home to Longham Community Preschool for around 60 years, which in March feared it would be made homeless when the church announced it would close. 

However, in June it was announced the school would be changing its name to Parley Community Pre School after it was told it could move into West Parley Sports Club in Christchurch Road. 

The last service was held on March 11, three months after the “heartbreaking” decision to shut down the church was made in a meeting. 

Historic England gave the building Grade II listed status in 1974 and before that, it was listed as a Congregational Chapel. 

The United Reform Church has churches in Wimborne, West Moors, Blandford, Poole Old Town, Parkstone, Bournemouth town centre, Iford, Southbourne, Lansdowne, Burton and Walkford.