Who we are

The Congregational Memorial Hall Trust was founded in 1872 to create a memorial to those Christian ministers who were forced out of their positions in the Church of England following the Act of Uniformity in 1662. The fund established by the Trust was used to create the Congregational Library and encourage and assist Biblical studies. Since 1872 the Library has occupied a number of sites in London and until recently was lodged with Dr Williams’s Library in Gordon Square, London, who managed the Congregational Library collections on behalf of the Trust. A search for a new home for our collections continues.

Welcome to our website. We hope you’ll find it useful, inspiring and informative. If you have any questions, please contact us.

News

2023 Congregational Lecture

Dr Michael Davies will give a Lecture entitled ‘John Bunyan, Congregational Person’. The lecture will take place at Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street, Bedford, MK40 3EU on Thursday 23rd November 2023 at 5:30pm. Dr Davies teaches early modern English literature at the University of Liverpool across a range of periods, from the poetry, prose, and drama […]

George Whitefield and Nonconformity

At the Friends’ event on 22 November 2022 Dr Digby James spoke about the life and mission of George Whitefield, illustrating his lecture with pictures and photographs. Friends who would like to see a film of the lecture can do so by going to View filmed events in the Friends of the Library drop down […]

The London Missionary Society and David Bogue

At the Friends’ event on Tuesday 22 November, Dr John Parry spoke about The London Missionary Society, David Bogue and his connections with Scottish Congregationalists. Friends of the Congregational Library can see a film of the Dr Parry’s lecture by going to View filmed events in the Friends of the Library drop down menu and […]

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Looking after your church history

Interested in looking after your Church history – see our guidance here.

More about the Reformation and Non-conformity

The way that Non-conformity grew out of the Reformation and influenced more than three hundred years of British and global history is often hidden from the national narrative.

From John Owen, born in 1616, who lived through the turbulent years of the Civil War, to the great non-conformists of the 19th century, who ministered when dissent from the Established Church was itself a bar to education and public office, and into the early 20th century, with its terrible wars and upheavals, they shaped the world in which we live now. Read more

23 November 2023
- Friends of the Congregational Library Autumn Event3:00 pm - 5:00 pmA short introductory talk on the Bunyan Museum and the Bunyan Meeting will be given at 3pm on the day of the Friends Annual General Meeting followed by a guided tour of the Bunyan Museum.
  There will also be an exhibition of some of the Congregational Library's portraits. Bunyan Meeting
  Mill Street
  Bedford
  MK40 3EU
- Friends of the Congregational Library Annual General Meeting4:00 pm - 5:00 pmThe Friends of the Congregational Library AGM to be followed at 5:00pm by tea and the 2023 Annual Congregational Lecture at 5:30pm.
  If planning to attend please notify the Secretary of the Friends at admin@pondsquarechapel.org.uk Bunyan Meeting
  Mill Street
  Bedford
  MK40 3EU
- 2023 Congregational Lecture5:30 pmDr Michael Davies of The University of Liverpool will give a Lecture entitled 'John Bunyan, Congregational Person'. With Bob Owens, he has edited The Oxford Handbook of John Bunyan. He is currently preparing for OUP a scholarly edition, The Bunyan Church Book, 1650-1710. Bunyan Meeting
  Mill Street
  Bedford
  MK40 3EU

The Congregational Library