Clark Street Congregational Church, Morecambe

I stumbled across the Clark Street Congregational Church on Clark Street (where else?), Morecambe, this winter. Built in the 1860s to seat over 300 souls, it perhaps closed even before joining with the Presbyterians to make the United Reformed Church in 1972. It is a handsome building, designed by Edward Paley, doubtless demonstrating that the Independents of fashionable Morecambe could afford the services of the fashionable local architect. The bell tower and gothic windows seem a little unnecessary, but this may have saved it from a later generation’s demolition experts. It is now the impressive premises of Waters and Atkinson, Chartered Accountants. Prior to this, it hosted the town’s magistrates and also a ballet school. If I were a cleverer man, and a better writer, I might produce some witty paragraph about poor numbers, breaking the law and peculiar movements, but I shan’t. I am content to say that this grand place of worship is no longer a place where God Almighty is honoured, for it has been handed over to secular usage.

We believers know that it is not grand gothic or imposing towers which possess real beauty, but the exquisite gospel of grace. Where that is preached, the humblest tin tabernacle is transformed into a cathedral; where it is denied, the grandest cathedral is rendered a midden heap.