About the church
In 1719, a new Meeting House completed in Stowmarket by Robert Pett. Samuel Choyce became the first settled minister in 1723 and served until his death in 1745. During the 19th century this building was extensively extended and altered. In 1855, the church affiliated to the Congregational Union of England and Wales and in 1861, the old Meeting House was demolished and a new Chapel built. By 1884, the church roll contained some 550 names and the Sunday school numbered some 1200 children including country branches in the local villages. Luther Caws stayed until 1896 when ill health forced his retirement.
On January 31 1941, the church building was destroyed in an air raid by a lone German bomber. The building was a total loss. At the time of the raid the minister Eric Weir was the chief civil defence warden for the district. Sunday services continued to be held in the Regal Cinema. A large cross was erected on the cleared church site.
In 1955, the architect AD Cooke completed a new church building in contemporary style. In the years that followed the Fison Hall was added to the building together with Centre Three, a modern youth centre. In 1973, the church became part of the United Reformed Church following the coming together of the Congregational Church of England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England a year earlier.
About the cache
This is a simple multi and the final location is less than ten minutes walk away, on paved paths. It is suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs. You will need to find a noticeboard in front of the church, which will give you some the information you need to find the cache. You will be able to see the other clue items from here too.
This cache is not hidden on church grounds. The container is a camouflaged nano, as the previous container was muggled. Please be aware that this is a very busy area. Stealth will be required! Please do not try to access the cache by clambering over the shubbery from the supermarket car park. There is a footpath - please use it, however tempting the co-ords may look.
The co-ordinates were averaged from several readings, please let me know if you have any corrections.
The co-ordinates of the final location are
N 52° 11.abc E 000° 59.def
where
a= The number of "Authorised Parking" notice boards
b= The ninth digit of the telephone number
c= The third digit of the telephone number
d= The eighth digit of the telephone number
e= The number of sets of blue double doors in the front of the church
f= The seventh digit of the telephone number
If you would like to add to the Church Micro series yourself then please look here
http://churchmicro.co.uk/
There is also a Church Micro Stats & Information page that can be found at
http://www.15ddv.me.uk/geo/cm/index.html