Standing on Tithebarn Street, the United Reformed Church has been an important part of community life in Poulton-le-Fylde since the mid-twentieth century. Opened in 1955 as Tithebarn Christian Fellowship, the church was established to meet the spiritual and social needs of a growing population as new housing developments expanded the town in the years following the Second World War.
The congregation traces its roots to the Congregational Church, a branch of Protestant Christianity that emphasised the independence of individual congregations rather than central church authority. This tradition had played an important role in English religious life since the seventeenth century. In 1972, the Congregational Church in England and Wales united with the Presbyterian Church of England to form the United Reformed Church, bringing the Poulton congregation into the newly established denomination while allowing it to continue its work within the local community.
Designed in the clean, functional style typical of post-war church architecture, the building was intended to serve a wider purpose than religious worship alone. From its earliest years it became a centre for community activities, youth organisations, meetings, charity events and social gatherings, reflecting the important role churches played in supporting rapidly expanding towns during the 1950s and 1960s.
The church has also made a lasting contribution to preserving Poulton’s history. In 1981, its minister, the Revd David Wiseman, founded the Poulton-le-Fylde Historical Society, now known as the Poulton-le-Fylde Historical & Civic Society. Under his guidance, the society encouraged research into the town’s past, organised talks and publications, and played a leading role in recording and promoting the heritage of Poulton and the wider Fylde. Its work has helped safeguard many local stories, historic buildings and traditions for future generations.
Recognising the church’s place in the town’s history, a Poulton Heritage Plaque has been installed on the building. The plaque explains the origins of Tithebarn Christian Fellowship and its later transition into the United Reformed Church, while acknowledging the building’s contribution to the religious and community life of Poulton-le-Fylde. It forms part of the town’s wider heritage trail, which highlights buildings, landmarks and locations that have shaped Poulton’s development over the centuries.
Today, the United Reformed Church remains an active place of worship and community gathering. More than seventy years after its opening, it continues to serve local residents while also standing as a reminder of the town’s post-war growth and the enduring importance of faith, fellowship and community service. Together with its heritage plaque and its association with the founding of the Poulton-le-Fylde Historical & Civic Society, the church occupies an important place in both the religious and historical story of Poulton-le-Fylde.
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