Cheltenham - Current and Former Places of Worship
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, UK.
The information detailed below has been obtained from various sources, and is as complete as possible. In many cases the record only indicates when a church was in use - it may have been in existence before that. Additional information or corrections, however small, are welcomed. The purpose of this page is to provide a free resource for family historians.
GRO = Gloucester Record Office
All Saints' C of E Church
All Saint's Road, Pittville, Cheltenham
Built 1865-8 in Gothic style, architect John Middleton
GRO REF: 078/02, church registers 1869-1972
Bethel Baptist Chapel, Knapp Rd., facing St. James's Square.
See Christadelphian Hall.
Bayshill Unitarian Chapel
Chapel Walk, Cheltenham
Built 1842-4 in Anglo-Norman style, designed by H.R. Abraham
Bethany Chapel
Regent Street, Cheltenham
Built 1840, known later as Regent Chapel, nonconformist. Later used by an estate agent.
Bethany Hall
Newton Road, Hesters Way, Cheltenham
Bethesda Church
Great Norwood Street, Cheltenham
Built 1845-6 in Gothic style, replacing a smaller chapel on the same site. Wesleyan Methodist
Cambray Baptist Church
Cambray Place, Cheltenham
Built 1853-5 in Italianate style, designed by Borough Surveyor Henry Dangerfield
Charlton Kings Baptist Church
Church Street, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham
Built 1875
Cheltenham Chapel
St. George's Square, off Lower High Street, Cheltenham
Built 1808-9 of brick with a stuccoed facade bearing the date and name of the building. Designed by Edward Smith a local architect. Cheltenham's earliest surviving nonconformist chapel. Later used by Congregationalists, Presbyterians and the Salvation Army. A small graveyard adjoins the chapel, was opened in 1810 and containsd some 19th century headstones.
Christadelphian Hall
Knapp Road, Cheltenham. Facing St. James Square.
Formerly Bethel Baptist Chapel. The Baptists closed the chapel in 1951. It was then used by the Mormons, and, latterly the Christadelphians.
Built in 1820-1 to replace a smaller chapel of 1701-2 on the same site
Christ Church
Malvern Road, Cheltenham
Built 1837-40, designed by the Robert William Jearrad and Charles Jearrad (brothers)
GRO REF: 078/03, church registers1865-1980 (Christenings & Marriages)
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Bayshill Road, Cheltenham
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Thirlestaine Road, Cheltenham
Citadel (Salvation Army)
Bath Road, Cheltenham
Clare Street Chapel.
Clare Street, Cheltenham. Built early 19th Century as 'The Tabernacle' and used for a short while in 1843 by Baptists seceders from 'Salem Chapel'. In later life in commercial use, it was demolished some time after 1971.
Congregationalist Church
Winchcombe Street, Cheltenham
Built in 1852, designed by Samuel Onley. Building acquired in 1932 to make way for Odean cinema. Congregation moved to Highbury Congregational Church.
Ebenezer Methodist Chapel
King Street, off Lower High Street, Cheltenham
Now Kings Court, restored for use as flats
Built 1812, the first Wesleyan chapel in Cheltenham.
Elim Pentecostal Church
117 St. George's Road, Cheltenham
Emmanuel Church
Fairfield Parade, Cheltenham
Built 1936, replacing an earlier building.
GRO REF: 078/13, church registers 1918-1969
Evangelical Free Church, Whaddon Road
Whaddon Road, Cheltenham
Evangelical Free Church, Naunton Lane
Gospel Mission Hall, Naunton Lane, Cheltenham
Built c.1914
Friends' Meeting House
Manchester Place, Cheltenham
Built 1836 next to a house where the Friends had met since 1702. Taken over by the Unitarians until their move to Bayshill in 1844.
Gas Green Baptist Church
Baker Street/Russell Street, Cheltenham.
Built about 1836. Used by various denominations, including Primitive Methodists; Independents (from about 1848) and latterly by the Baptists.
The chapel's original site was on the southern side of the Tewkesbury Road and this was demolished when the then gas works were extended about 1836.
Hesters Way Church
Barbridge Road, Hesters Way, Cheltenham
Highbury Chapel
Grosvenor Street, Cheltenham
Built 1817-8, former Snow's Chapel, after the Rev. Thomas Snow's removal from 'Portland Chapel', Sold in 1827 to Congregationalist in 1827 who renamed it 'Highbury Chapel'. In 1852 it became a Sunday school when a new chapel was opened in Winchcombe St. Now a youth club hall.
A new Highbury Chapel was built in Winchcombe Street on the old Albion Livery stables site, now the present Odean cinema site (see Congregationalists Church)
Highbury Congregational Church
Oxford Street/Priory Walk, Cheltenham
Opened 1934, to replace the Congregational Church in Winchcombe Street.
Holy Apostles C of E Church
London Road/Cirencester Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham
Built in 1866-71 on land donated by Charles Cooke Higgs, designed by John Middleton
GRO REF: 386, church register 1886-1985
Holy Name Hall
Pennine Road, Lynworth, Cheltenham
Holy Trinity Church
Portland Street/Trinity Lane, Cheltenham
Built in1820-3, architect George Allen Underwood. When originally built the majority of the pews were privately owned by the shareholders who had paid for the building of the church.
Francis Close was a curate in 1824GRO REF: 078/04, church registers 1823-1962
Leckhampton Baptist Church (Zion)
Pilley Lane, Leckhampton, Cheltenham
New Life Church
24 St. George's Place, Cheltenham
North Place Chapel (Originally Portland Chapel)
North Place, Cheltenham
Built 1816 as a private chapel at the expense of Robert Capper, J.P. of Marle Hill. First minister Thomas Snow, who was removed after he adopted Strict Baptist views. See Highbury Chapel.
Known as Portland chapel (nonconformist), gifted to the Countess of Huntingdon's connection, who re-opened it 27 June1819. Presently used as a keep fit gymnasium 'Chapel Rock'
 "Click for larger image of Northplace Chapel")
Providence Chapel
Naunton Parade, Cheltenham
Built 1836?, Independent
Quaker Meeting House
Manchester Street (Clarence Street), Cheltenham
Built 1835-6 to replace a small meetinghouse located in Manchester Walk, which had been in use since 1702. Associated Quakers burial ground was in Grove Street, off Lower High Street. Wall plaque reads 'Friends Burial Ground 1700'
Sacred Hearts R.C. Church
Moorend Road, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham
Built 1956-7 to replace a small chapel.
Salem Baptist Church
Clarence Parade, Cheltenham
Built 1843-4 in Gothic style, nonconformist. Reporting its consecration the Cheltenham Journal wrote 'the florid style of its architecture, and magnificent Gothic windows seem particularly to contradict the simplicity and lowliness usually sought to be attached to dissent in this country'.
Now (1999) converted into a public house 'Festival and Firkin'.
The community has relocated to their new building at 129 St Georges Rd Cheltenham. [Information provided by Andrew McFarlane]
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Friends meeting house, Warwick Place, off Portland Street, Cheltenham
St. Aidan's Church
Coronation Square, Edinburgh Place, Cheltenham. Consecrated 1959.
St. Andrew's United Reformed Church
Fauconberg Road, Montpellier, Cheltenham
Built 1885, architect Thomas Arnold A.R.I.B.A.
The Baptismal Records of St. Andrew's United Reformed Church,
(formerly St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church) Montpellier are in the Gloucester Records office.Founded 1858 for Presbyterian worshippers at the former Cheltenham Chapel, St. George's Square.
St. Barnabas C of E Church
Orchard Way, Cheltenham
St. Christopher's C of E Church
Salisbury Avenue, Cheltenham
St. Gregory the Great R.C. Church
Clarence Street, Cheltenham
Built 1854-57 to replace an earlier chapel built on the same site in 1810, which was used mainly by refugees from the revolution in France. Designed by Charles Hansom
St. James Church
Suffolk Square, Cheltenham
Built 1825-30 on ground sold by the Earl of Suffolk's daughter and then donated by the Suffolk estate developer, James Fisher. Designed by Edward Jenkins a local architect in the perpendicular style, and finished (roof) by Papworth. When originally built the majority of the pews were privately owned by the shareholders who had paid for the building of the church.
Also known as Suffolk Church. By 1982 was being used as a Parish Hall.GRO REF: 078/05
St. John's Church
Berkeley Street, Cheltenham
Anglican
Built 1827-9 for the inhabitants of the new houses in and around the Upper High Street, designed by John Buonarotti Papworth. When originally built the majority of the pews were privately owned by the shareholders who had paid for the building of the church.
Demolished and rebuilt in Victorian Gothic style then finally demolished in 1967.
GRO REF: 078/06, church registers1865-1947
St. Luke (1854) and St. John (1967) C of E Church
St. Luke's Road, Cheltenham
Built 1853-4 on site purchased by Francis Close, designed by Frederick Ordish and paid for by subscription.
GRO REF: 078/07, church registers1855-1983
 "Click for larger image of St Lukes")
St. Margaret's Hall
Coniston Road, Hatherley, Cheltenham
St. Mark's C of E Church
Church Road, St. Mark's, Cheltenham
Built 1860-6, architect John Middleton, consecrated 1862
GRO REF: 078/08, church registers 1862-1982
St. Mark's Methodist Church
Gloucester Road, Cheltenham
St. Mary's Church (Charlton Kings)
Church Street, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham
Medieval church, originating from chapel consecrated c.1190
GRO REF: 076, church registers 1538-1967
St. Mary's Parish Church
Clarence Street, Cheltenham
Only medieval church of Cheltenham
New burial ground purchased in 1829, chapel built 1831, off Lower High Street (later, Winston Churchill Memorial Garden).GRO REF: 078/01, church registers 1558-1745
St. Mary's Prestbury C of E Parish Church
Mill Street, Prestbury, Cheltenham
GRO REF: 254, church registers 1633-1812
 "Click for larger image of Prestbury Church")
St. Matthew's Church
Clarence Street, Cheltenham
Built 1879 to replace temporary church on same site built previously in 1859, this site being the original location of the great manor house. The present church's spire was removed in 1952 and reduced further in 1971. Designed by Ewan Christian
GRO REF: 078/09?
St. Michael's Church
Severn Road, Cheltenham. Built 1965-6.
GRO REF: 078/17, church registers 1947-1984
St. Nicholas C of E Church
Swindon Lane, Cheltenham
St. Paul's C of E Church
St. Paul's Road, Cheltenham
Built 1829-31 by the Rev. Francis Close as a free church and paid for by voluntary subscriptions, Joseph Pitt having contributed the plot of land. Designed by John Forbes
GRO REF: 078/10, church registers 1846-1932
St. Peter's C of E Church
Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham
Built 1847-9, consecrated 1849, design by Samuel Whitfield Daukes in neo-Norman style
GRO REF: 078/11, church registers 1845-1936
St. Peter's C of E Church, Leckhampton
Leckhampton Lane, Leckhampton
GRO REF: 198/01, church registers 1679-1966
St. Philip & St. James Church (Cheltenham) Leckhampton
Painswick Road, Cheltenham
Original church of St. Philip built 1844 by Edward Shellard, demolished 1879, first minister J. E. Riddle. Replaced with present SS Philip and James, built 1879-1882 in Gothic style, architect John Middleton.
GRO REF: 198/02
St. Philip & St. James Church (Up Hatherley)
Cold Pool Lane/Hatherley Road, Up Hatherley, Cheltenham
GRO REF: 168
St. Silas C of E Church
Hester's Way Road, Cheltenham
St. Stephen's Church
St. Stephen's Road, Cheltenham
Built 1873-83 to design of John Middleton.
GRO REF: 078/12, church registers 1884-1986
St. Thomas More R.C. Church
Princess Elizabeth Way, Cheltenham. Opened 1967.
Salvation Army Goodwill centre
Swindon Road/Sun Street, Cheltenham
Spiritualist Church
Bennington Street, Cheltenham
Suffolk Church
Suffolk Square, Cheltenham
Earlier name of St. James
Synagogue
Synagogue Lane, off St. James's Square
Built 1837-9, architect W. H. Knight a local man. A small burial ground can be found in Elm Street, off Tewkesbury Road, which was purchased 5 years after the consecration of the synagogue in 1839. The synagogue was closed in 1897 and was not in use again until 1939. A smaller synagogue had existed in Manchester Place from the 1820's
United Methodist Free Chapel
Chapel Walk, Cheltenham. Also known as Royal Well Chapel
United Reformed Church (Prestbury)
Prestbury United Reformed Church (formerly Prestbury Congregational Church) Deep Street, Prestbury was founded in 1866.
Warden Hill United Reformed Church
Salisbury Avenue, Cheltenham.
Warden Hill United Reformed Church was founded in 1960 by members from Highbury Congregational Church
Wesleyan Chapel
St. George's Street, Cheltenham
Zoar Chapel
Suffolk Street, Cheltenham
Opened 1909. A short lived Baptist chapel
Notes
John Middleton, a prominent local architect. He was responsible for All Saints' ; Holy Apostles; St. Mark's; St. Philip & St. James, and St. Stephen's Churches in Cheltenham.