St. Andrew's United Reformed Church, Southampton

Avenue Saint Andrew's United Reformed Church in Southampton has a rich and intertwined history that dates back to 1662. Originally founded under the leadership of Rev. Nathaniel Robinson, the congregation has been a significant part of the city's religious community. Notably, Isaac Watts’ father, a deacon of the church, connects this church to the famous hymn-writer. Over the centuries, the church evolved, growing from its original chapel to newer, larger buildings in 1727, 1819, and beyond, as the congregation expanded.

The church, previously known as Above Bar Independent Chapel, played a crucial role in Southampton's Non-Conformist movement throughout the 19th century, with Rev. Thomas Adkins as a key figure in its leadership. However, during World War II, the church was destroyed in the Luftwaffe bombing of 30 November 1940, forcing many congregants to move to the nearby Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church. This led to a formal merger of the two congregations under the leadership of Rev. Maxwell Jones.

Saint Andrew's Presbyterian Church, established in 1853, was a distinctive Gothic-style building designed by architects Hinves and Bedborough. Originally tied to a Scottish Presbyterian congregation, it was often called the “Scotch Church” and reflected the Scottish heritage of its founding members, many of whom worked for P&O.

By the 1970s, the area surrounding Saint Andrew’s had changed, leading to a decline in the congregation. Structural issues with the building in the early 1980s prompted a merger with Avenue Congregational Church, and together they became Avenue Saint Andrew's United Reformed Church. The original Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian building was demolished in 1998, marking the end of an era, but the spirit of the church lives on in its current form.