Save Cheshunt Free Church: Protect Our Local Heritage for a Disability-Led Community Hub
The Issue
Petition Target:
The Revd Dr John Bradbury, the General Secretary of the United Reformed Church
The Petition Statement:
We, the undersigned, call upon the United Reformed Church (URC) General Assembly and Synod Trustees to immediately halt the private disposal of the vacant Cheshunt Free Church premises (27 High Street, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 0BS).
“You can empty an entire ocean if enough people show up with a teaspoon.”
Every signature and share helps to undermine the threat of private commercial redevelopment. Cheshunt Free Church is an irreplaceable monument to nonconformist liberty, wartime resilience, and pioneering social justice in East Hertfordshire. With a continuous heritage of public assembly on this site dating back to 1782, the current landmark represents a proud history of radical dissent and civilian sanctuary—including serving as a surveyed 'British Restaurant' communal feeding hub during the Blitz crisis. In modern history, this building established a courageous legacy of equality by holding a historic registration with the Registrar General for the solemnisation of same-sex marriages.
Our vision is to transition this vacant asset into The MSGO (Messy Social Greens Oasis) Hub—the local wing of the wider Community Interest Company (CIC) The FAWO Trust launching this November. The MSGO Hub will operate an inclusive creative art workshop, a community queer library, and the Mystical Haven Play Cafe—a specialised social enterprise designed to provide vital paid employment opportunities for local adults who are neurodivergent, have learning disabilities (LD), physical disabilities, or mental health challenges.
🏛️ The URC Course of Action & The Critical Risk
The Synod Defence: The Reverend George Watt, Synod Moderator for the URC Thames North Synod, has defended the private sale by citing a closed-door internal congregation vote from last year, effectively washing his hands of wider public accountability.
The Open-Market Risk: If the community does not formally intervene before the strict 3-week statutory interim deadline on Friday 23rd October 2026, our temporary council shield will dissolve. The URC Trustees will instantly be granted an 18-month "Protected Period" to legally exchange contracts with their private buyer and Kingdom Bank Limited, locking the public out of this asset permanently.
Our Direct Demands to Church House
We call upon the General Secretary, The Revd Dr John Bradbury, and the national Trust Officers to execute two precise actions under charity law:
- Acknowledge the Community Bid: Instruct the Synod Trustees to formally accept our upcoming Expression of Interest before the 23rd October deadline, triggering the full 6-month statutory protection clock running into April 2027.
- Open Direct Dialogue: Immediately freeze exclusive negotiations with private commercial buyers and enter transparent discussions with our incoming CIC (The MSGO Hub) to secure the chapel’s inclusive civic future.
The Community Convergence & Handfasting
To demonstrate our absolute dedication to this space, we are gathering at the gates on the day of the deadline—Wednesday, 23rd October 2026—for a community convergence and a symbolic wedding ceremony. Custodian Beth will be handfasting with the church building itself for a year and a day, calling upon the exchange of a crooked coin to bind the initial vow.
Sign this petition to tell the URC Trustees: Community value must come before private profit!
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The Issue
Petition Target:
The Revd Dr John Bradbury, the General Secretary of the United Reformed Church
The Petition Statement:
We, the undersigned, call upon the United Reformed Church (URC) General Assembly and Synod Trustees to immediately halt the private disposal of the vacant Cheshunt Free Church premises (27 High Street, Cheshunt, Herts, EN8 0BS).
“You can empty an entire ocean if enough people show up with a teaspoon.”
Every signature and share helps to undermine the threat of private commercial redevelopment. Cheshunt Free Church is an irreplaceable monument to nonconformist liberty, wartime resilience, and pioneering social justice in East Hertfordshire. With a continuous heritage of public assembly on this site dating back to 1782, the current landmark represents a proud history of radical dissent and civilian sanctuary—including serving as a surveyed 'British Restaurant' communal feeding hub during the Blitz crisis. In modern history, this building established a courageous legacy of equality by holding a historic registration with the Registrar General for the solemnisation of same-sex marriages.
Our vision is to transition this vacant asset into The MSGO (Messy Social Greens Oasis) Hub—the local wing of the wider Community Interest Company (CIC) The FAWO Trust launching this November. The MSGO Hub will operate an inclusive creative art workshop, a community queer library, and the Mystical Haven Play Cafe—a specialised social enterprise designed to provide vital paid employment opportunities for local adults who are neurodivergent, have learning disabilities (LD), physical disabilities, or mental health challenges.
🏛️ The URC Course of Action & The Critical Risk
The Synod Defence: The Reverend George Watt, Synod Moderator for the URC Thames North Synod, has defended the private sale by citing a closed-door internal congregation vote from last year, effectively washing his hands of wider public accountability.
The Open-Market Risk: If the community does not formally intervene before the strict 3-week statutory interim deadline on Friday 23rd October 2026, our temporary council shield will dissolve. The URC Trustees will instantly be granted an 18-month "Protected Period" to legally exchange contracts with their private buyer and Kingdom Bank Limited, locking the public out of this asset permanently.
Our Direct Demands to Church House
We call upon the General Secretary, The Revd Dr John Bradbury, and the national Trust Officers to execute two precise actions under charity law:
- Acknowledge the Community Bid: Instruct the Synod Trustees to formally accept our upcoming Expression of Interest before the 23rd October deadline, triggering the full 6-month statutory protection clock running into April 2027.
- Open Direct Dialogue: Immediately freeze exclusive negotiations with private commercial buyers and enter transparent discussions with our incoming CIC (The MSGO Hub) to secure the chapel’s inclusive civic future.
The Community Convergence & Handfasting
To demonstrate our absolute dedication to this space, we are gathering at the gates on the day of the deadline—Wednesday, 23rd October 2026—for a community convergence and a symbolic wedding ceremony. Custodian Beth will be handfasting with the church building itself for a year and a day, calling upon the exchange of a crooked coin to bind the initial vow.
Sign this petition to tell the URC Trustees: Community value must come before private profit!
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Petition created on 28 September 2026