Built between 1852 and 1853 to the Gothic Revival design of architects Poulton and Woodman for a congregation which had its origins nearly 200 years earlier, it is "incongruously set within the northern part of the former county jail",[1] which had recently moved to a new site.

A congregation of Presbyterians formed in Winchester in the late 16th century and opened a chapel on Parchment Street in 1704.

It formed part of the site of the old jail,[2] which had been replaced by a new building (now HM Prison Winchester) on Romsey Road in 1850.

[3] Much of the structure of the old jail, a "forbidding" building rebuilt c. 1805, survived, and the new church was built between the remaining sections—the five-bay main entrance (now a pub called The Old Gaolhouse) and the north wing (now a shop)—"oddly separat[ing]" them.

[9] Both Methodist chapels had their registrations formally cancelled in September 1977[11] and have been converted for secular use: the Wesleyan chapel became a suite of offices in 1978 before being reconverted into flats in 2007,[10] and the Primitive Methodist chapel—which had already closed in 1973—became a mixed-use development with flats and offices.

[1] Under the name Congregational Chapel, Winchester United Church was listed at Grade II by English Heritage, the predecessor of Historic England, on 24 March 1950.

[17] The design Poulton and Woodman adopted at Winchester United Church was very similar to their earlier Congregational chapel at St Helier, Jersey[1] and has been described as "striking in its originality".

[18] It is Early English Gothic Revival in style, built of yellow stock brick and with pale stone quoins and dressings.

There is an arcade of "lanky" pointed arches around all sides of the church, reaching to just below the timber hammerbeam roof.

Other facilities include a community café, food bank and social groups for elderly people.