WELCOME WELCOME LDPA District and Provincial Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches

Membership Directory and Reports 2019-20 Message from the District Minister Contents

Membership Directory and Congregational Reports April 2019 to March 2020 Page 4 UNITARIANS 6 UNITARIANS We are pleased to publish the London you can’t find it anywhere – would be a District and South East Provincial step too far, but certainly we exhibit a 8 CHATHAM UNITARIANS Assembly of Unitarian and Free mixture of spiritual interests and 10 COLCHESTER FELLOWSHIP Christian Churches Directory of convictions, meshing in harmony with Churches, Chapels, Meeting Houses few gear crashes. I am grateful to be a 12 CROYDON UNITARIANS and Fellowships for 2019-2020. part of such a District. 14 DITCHLING UNITARIANS 16 DOVER UNITARIANS Being one of the largest districts of the In a digital age where information is so Unitarian movement and with the most easily shared and data protection an 18 UNITARIANS congregations collating all of this important requirement, please be careful 20 HASTINGS UNITARIANS information is no mean feat and so I where you store or leave this booklet. thank our administrator, Helen White, 22 UNITARIANS for her work and creative presentation of COVID-19 24 LONDON BRIXTON UNITARIANS this and all our publications. We have During the production of this directory, 26 LONDON GOLDERS GREEN UNITARIANS tried to make it accurate at the time of the entered lockdown. publication but inevitable by the time you Throughout the country all places of 28 LONDON HAMPSTEAD UNITARIANS read this and require it in the course of worship were required to close 30 LONDON KENSINGTON UNITARIANS the year there will be some changes, immediately. Different Unitarian please be understanding of this. congregations responded to this with a 32 LONDON LEWISHAM UNITY variety of innovative forms of 34 LONDON NEW UNITY The directory gives a hint of the communicating with their people and to enormous commitment of the many maintain worship. These have been 36 LONDON STRATFORD UNITARIANS people who contribute to the efficient testing times with high mortality 38 LEWES UNITARIANS and balanced operation of our throughout the British Isles and around 39 BETHNAL GREEN CHALICE FOUNDATION congregations and fellowships and I the world. take this opportunity to thank them for 39 SOUTHEND ON SEA UNITARIANS the work they do, largely in a voluntary Quite how long restrictions will prevent 40 MAIDSTONE UNITARIANS capacity. us from meeting normally again we do not know for sure, but we hope that we 42 OXFORD MANCHESTER COLLEGE C HAPEL SOCIETY We are an eclectic group of Unitarian might be able to start a safe return for 44 READING FELLOWSHIP people and we represent certainly most limited numbers in the autumn. 46 RICHMOND AND PUTNEY UNITARIANS if not all of the main Unitarian expressions of faith. The idea of Wishing you well in your Unitarian faith. 48 UNITARIANS ‘cornucopia’ – if you can’t find it here Rev. Martin Whitell 50 TENTERDEN UNITARIANS 52 WATFORD UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP minister and all ‘muck in’ with everything with each other. The Chapel is a place that needs doing to keep us serving. where you will find people who operate from a spirit of generosity and openness. Our tagline is ‘Contemplation, Creativity, Community and Compassion’ and the Some of our activities are organised by following account is drawn from our members of The Chapel and some are website and covers what we seek to run by people who use our building for represent ourselves. events that are in keeping with our vision and ethos. You will find details about our We seek to support contemplative current activities on this website and on living. By this, we mean encouraging promotional materials in the Billingshurst activities that allow people to step away locality. As examples, we offer musical from some of the pressures of everyday events such as our folk club; a living and create time to take stock or meditation group and retreat days; art find a sense of peace. This includes and creative writing classes; exhibition activities such as meditation, prayer, spaces and yoga groups. yoga, discussion forums or simply sitting quietly in the tranquillity of our garden. The Chapel is also home to local Billingshurst We have no ‘fixed’ philosophy or Unitarians who hold liberal, inclusive theology but encourage people to services twice monthly which explore explore their life paths in the setting of a and nourish spiritual development BILLINGSHURST UNITARIAN CHAPEL compassionate community. through multi-faith and secular readings, singing, meditation, prayer and talks. Address High Street, Billingshurst, West RH14 9QS At The Chapel, we value and seek to Historically, grew out of a Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/billingshurst support creativity. Be it visual or non-trinitarian Christianity but now it is performing arts; creative thinking and true to say that it aligns itself closer to Facebook Billingshurst Unitarian Chapel the exploration of alternative ways of ‘perennial’ philosophy. viewing the world, we support people in Worship Leaders Stuart Coupe & invited preachers finding ways in which their human The Chapel is registered for weddings Services First and third Sundays 10.30am creativity can flourish. and other ceremonies such as naming services and funerals. We have The Chapel works in the spirit of experienced officials who can help to compassion. We want to encourage plan and deliver life events in keeping ways of living where care for ourselves with shared beliefs and values. is matched by our care for each other, BILLINGSHURST REPORT wider humanity and our natural world. Billingshurst Unitarians, or ‘The Chapel’ as it is known, We work for justice and fairness in all serves a large village and a group of surrounding walks of life. For example, we have villages and hamlets in . We were recently supported local refugees and founded in 1754 and are only 7 miles from our much do on-going charitable work with a larger ‘sister’ church in Horsham. We are small in Nicarguan Educational Organisation. Our header picture represents our number but high in love and commitment. Our services Chapel; a little oasis of light, nestled are held twice monthly and our attendance on these Community: through all that we do, we between the North and South Downs in Sundays averages at around 14. We have no paid hope to develop a spirit of community West Sussex.

4 BRIGHTON UNITARIAN REPORT Our Friday Lunch Time Concerts We have had a busy and positive year. continue to bring new people into the In December our Church Administrator, church and provide music of an Marion Bance retired after 10 years in excellent standard. post. Her contribution to our church over the last decade has been substantial, to Five new members have joined the say the least. We are a thriving music church over the last four months. venue and meeting space largely due to Marion's excellent work. Repairs to the windows on the north side of the church are going well. Other features of church life include: Two Heart and Soul gatherings each This August we had looked forward to month, and a time of Quiet Reflection. welcoming the District Quarterly Our Love, Loss and Remembrance Meeting for our bicentenary Group meets monthly. celebrations. Our plans are sadly on hold due to the pandemic, but in the Our members have organised two trial meantime we’re grateful for two hundred runs of our Welcome Café which caters years of Unitarianism in Brighton! Brighton to the isolated and the homeless in Brighton. The café aims to reach out to Below: Brighton Unitarians took part in the many marginalised folk in our city. PRIDE last summer for the first time! BRIGHTON UNITARIAN CHURCH Address New Road, Brighton BN11UF Tel 01273 696022 Email [email protected] Website www.brightonunitarian.org.uk Facebook Brighton Unitarian Twitter Brighton Unitarians Lay Person in Charge Jef Jones Services Sundays 11.00am

6 CHATHAM REPORT We have continued to enjoy the services and mowed the lawn. A petrol powered of Rev. Feargus O’Connor once a month mower was donated for which many with members taking others. He gave thanks. The Youth Offenders gave the the Interfaith supporters on the Peach shrubs a good pruning. The electricity March an insight into Unitarianism was turned on again in November 2018 during the rest stop at the church. His and two stained glass windows special Animal Service was well repaired. We are grateful for the many supported. Our average attendance was donations which enabled this to happen. six. There were no Rites of Passage performed this year. The management and trustees’ committees wanted more time to We continue our involvement with consider the implications of removing Interfaith Action with members the old organ. Sadly, our musician and attending monthly meetings. A service member felt obliged to resign. We are on the work of Will Hayes was held grateful for her nine years of service to during Interfaith Week and members the church. The church had to be closed attended events at other places of for a time due to suspected asbestos Chatham worship during the week. Activities during which time vandals set fire to the outside of services include poetry and main door. The damaged stonework has felting, and a course on Ethics, as well now been repaired and a new door built. CHATHAM UNITARIAN CHURCH as being represented on the council’s Beryl Payne and Pat Preece have Green Forum. We were open for Kent continued to work on a web site for Address Hamond Hill, Chatham, Kent ME4 6AP Ride and Stride. Rev. O’Connor former minister Will Hayes, completing Tel 07712 289 845 participated in the Remembrance Day reviews of all his publications that have Services in Victoria Gardens. been found and meeting with his Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/chatham granddaughter and others who knew Members attended FUSE and the LDPA him. Facebook Chatham Unitarian Church quarterly held in March which Minister Rev. Feargus O'Connor generously gave Chatham the offertory. The future of the church is in doubt Members also attended services at although the heritage status does limit Services First & second Sundays 10.30am Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Lewisham, possible use. This includes the need for Newington Green and the LDPA archaeological oversight if the graves quarterly at Rosslyn Hill in Hampstead; were to be removed. We could meet at The Secretary attended AGM of General the local Friends’ Meeting House. There at Nottage in . is a need in the Medway Towns for inexpensive venues which the church Volunteers have painted the lavatory, building could meet if it was in a better cleared gutters, cleaned chapel and hall, condition. The way forward is not clear.

8 COLCHESTER REPORT Colchester Colchester Unitarians have continued to So who are we and what do we believe? meet each month on Sunday evenings in In a nutshell, older, white and gender- members’ homes in Colchester and on balanced, with a diverse range of views. Fellowship nearby Mersea Island. Among the topics Some of us have well-developed second we have explored recently has been the religious identities connected with spirituality of Attar, the mystical Sufi poet Spiritualism and liberal Judaism, but we Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/colchester from 12th century Persia and a have found no conflict between this and forerunner of the better-known Rumi. belonging to the Unitarians. We have With the sad closure of Southend and enjoyed visits from Anglican, Baptist and Services Unitarians, we are the Methodist friends on occasion, but we Meetings take place in members’ homes in Colchester movement’s only meeting left in Essex. mostly cover topics at our meetings and East Mersea on Sunday evenings at 7.30pm We continue to enjoy fellowship with our beyond the sphere of traditional neighbours in Ipswich, supporting their Christianity. A provisional fellowship candelit Christmas carol service and founded by the national GA as a taking one of their meetings while they Millennium Project, we have no legacy are without a minister. We also enjoy the issues regarding buildings, budgets and valued support of the LDPA District stipends, and the bureaucracy that goes Minister, the Rev Martin Whitell. with them. This is undoubtedly a blessing! Four of our members and attenders are involved in the work of Camp Jojo (below), a project that provides summer holidays on Mersea for families with disabled children. This work has been generously supported by the LDPA, and is being featured at the AGM in Croydon.

10 Our plans for the anniversary are more them as ordinary people whom we know reflective of the times: we’re going to and love, instead of unwelcome have a big party on November 14th, foreigners or, worse, deviants. Some of followed by a service the next day. the newer members have come forward to fill roles in the church, joining the Because of generous bequests from Committee and editing the newsletter Joan Kereki and Alan Oates, we will be and the website. able to spend money on some much- needed improvements to the building. It’s now been five years since we let our And, as a statement of hopefulness for hall to a nursery. This has worked well the future, we are planning to make the financially, resolving a drastic money church building energy self-sufficient problem we were experiencing. Also, through the installation of solar panels. leaving the big draughty hall to history has made our after-church gatherings Sometimes it seems as if there is not more like a party every Sunday. The old only an open door to our church, but a vestibule is now decked out as a café, revolving one. This is largely because so with tablecloths and a coffee bar, and Croydon many of the new faces we have seen sometimes it seems just too nice to over the past five years are asylum leave. Some stay for over an hour. seekers, in Croydon to deal with the CROYDON UNITARIAN CHURCH Home Office. They are in the UK As well as the vestibule, the entire Address The Flyover, Croydon, CR0 1ER because of their identity as gay and church has been redecorated. The lesbian citizens of such diverse places outside front windows were also re- Tel 020 8667 1681 as Kenya, Uganda, Pakistan and Nigeria. painted, along with the trim of the porch When accepted (or rejected), they move roof, greatly enhancing what I guess I’ll Website www.croydonunitarians.org.uk on to different places in the UK, with a refer to as “kerb appeal.” We have also Facebook Croydon Unitarians few notable exceptions. added a disabled toilet off the foyer, finally replacing the old facility in the Hall. Minister Rev. Art Lester So, many of the new faces come from our close association with the Croydon Attendance suffered a sharp drop this Services Sundays 11.00am Area Gay Society and the refugee group winter, due to a great many illnesses and Rainbows across Borders. However, injuries happening all at once. This there are now other newcomers as well. actuarial anomaly hasn’t depressed us, It seems that a diverse membership, as though, and the burgeoning spring has CROYDON REPORT ours has become, leads to an even more begun to rectify the problem. This will be a big year for us here at Croydon diverse group. Unitarians. In the first week of November, we will reach All of us realise that our congregation – our 150th anniversary. Some might think we don’t look These people are in the UK to avoid any congregation – is a work in a day over 149, but we have the changes to prove it. criminalisation and possible death due progress. That means it is always too to their sexuality. We have supported early to say how things will go. But, with In 1870, no less a personage than James Martineau them by writing letters and giving advice, helping hands like those named above, gave the initial address. He was known for his unique but, as one new member recently told we can feel confident about the future of take on Christianity, but not necessarily for his brevity. us, the real support lies in accepting No 1, The Flyover.

12 The Old Meeting House is owned by a last winter he introduced a series of Village Charity with the majority of the talks which proved very successful. He Trustees and Officers being either has become part of the Ditchling members of the congregation or fellow community engaging with village Unitarians. The Trustees have recently activities through the Village Association undertaken a programme of renovating and in particular with the annual the gallery at the Old Meeting House. Newcomers Party when village The three rows of old pews (built from organisations try meet all the new old panelling removed from the OMH residents to the village. walls in the 1930s) have been removed and the floor levelled. New lighting and Unfortunately, no weddings have taken power points have been installed place in the past year but the trustees together with new carpeting. A local have approved a request from the Charity has given the congregation Congregation to register the Old £1500 to assist with furnishing – chairs, Meeting House for same sex weddings. table, cupboards etc., whilst the The application has been made. On the Ditchling Village Ball gave the Trustees other hand, having a Minister has Ditchling £2000 as a contribution towards their already increased the number of funerals not inconsiderable costs. and memorial services.

OLD MEETING HOUSE The property, with attached cottage and Members remain very generous with adjacent grounds are maintained by the their Charitable Giving and actively The Twitten, Ditchling, East Sussex BN6 8UJ Trustees with the congregation making support a local food bank. an annual contribution of £3000. The Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/ditchling cottage is still inhabited by an elderly The Monday Meeting for the more Facebook Ditchling Unitarian Chapel member of the congregation at a elderly citizens continues to be subsidised rent. In due course the successful. Meetings take place on the Minister Rev. Duncan Voice (shared minister) Trustees will have to meet the third Monday of each month with a considerable costs of renovation. speaker or activity geared to their Services Sundays 11.00am interests, followed by tea, cake and a The Old Meeting House has regular chat. Numbers fluctuate with an average lettings – an art class, two choirs and a attendance of about 20. poetry group. There are also a number of regular one-off bookings during the We are endeavouring to increase year for the AGM’s of various awareness in the immediate community DITCHLING REPORT organisations, concerts and talks. It is but realise that it will take time. With The Ditchling congregation is unfortunately not getting hoped that with the improvements that Duncan the range and quality of our any younger and with the loss of members during the additional lettings will take place spiritual activities has certainly improved past year, who were very active in Church life, we are and now that the renovation of the now down to 15 members. Our average attendance is Duncan Voice, our minister, has taken on gallery is complete we hope to 14/15 on a Sunday morning and we are often joined by a pastoral role and has proved a great concentrate our efforts of attracting new members from the Lewes congregation which has now asset to the Ditchling congregation. His members through improved publicity closed for Sunday worship. meditation classes have continued and and more activities.

14 required to our listed building – fortunately not safety critical, but expensive and necessary nonetheless. Links to the local community and the wider Unitarian movement will be vital as we begin the process to raise funds, support and approval. As part of the need for growing recognition and acceptance in the , Daniel has made good links with local clergy, and represents us at Council and ecumenical events.

DOVER REPORT We continue to host the Dover Art Club Dover Unitarians are a small but and the local Dolls House Club too. We committed group, meeting in their are looking at expanding the range of imposing, box-pewed building first groups that use and/or let the space. opened for worship 200 years ago, in Dover 1820. We have been saddened by the death of David Embry (pictured below), for so Sunday worship is the key focus for the long the stalwart and committed leader DOVER UNITARIAN CHURCH group, meeting on the first and third of our congregation. David’s tireless Address Adrian Street, Dover, Kent CT17 9AT Sundays. Our Minister, Daniel Costley, work to keep the liberal religious faith leads on the third Sunday and, until alive in Dover has been crucial to the Website www.kentunitarians.org recently, our first Sundays were led by survival of Unitarianism in the town. A David Embry and David Milne. new committee has formed to take this Facebook Dover Unitarians work forward. Thanks to Liz Gregory and Minister Rev. Daniel Costley Sadly however, 2019 has been a Debbie Lawther as new Secretary and difficult year for the Unitarian Treasurer. Services First and third Sundays at 3.00pm congregation at Dover. Long time members David Milne and Maureen Embry both passed away, as did strong local supporter Robbie Emms. Their funerals were emotional and meaningful, but brought home the fragility of our place right now.

Links to the local community are however growing. A funeral at the church in May brought together the Mayor of Dover and several leading We are aware that 2020 will be a councillors, which will prove important in challenging year, but we stand as one to coming months; a recent building survey continue the presence of liberal and has indicated some essential repairs are accepting religion in the Dover area.

16 GODALMING REPORT to meet the differing needs of the We remain committed to enabling as community: an All-Age Carol service many people as possible to worship at and a more Contemplative Service the Chapel and to feel part of the which was a chance to take a breath. Godalming Unitarians community. We also offered a ‘Blue Christmas’ on Our 18th century chapel is located in the Winter Solstice – aimed at those Meadrow, and we typically have 25 to who find the festive season difficult. On 40 members and friends attending Good Friday Sheena and Rob Oulton led services. Next to the chapel we also a contemplative service on the Easter have a Hall which is used for community story. groups, rentals and for our popular “Café Church” services. In February, a new engagement group “Live the Questions” was started, led by Worship is at the heart of a religious Sheena. This group explores themes community, and we continue to offer related to faith, spirituality and life regular Sunday services that are issues. ‘Thinking at Susie’s’, a structured relevant, uplifting and fulfilling. Our half- listening and discussion group, time minister, Rev Sheena Gabriel, has continued to meet monthly, providing a Godalming conducted around two worship services space for exploration and expression on each month. On other Sundays, we are a wide range of topics. fortunate in being able to draw from a GODALMING UNITARIAN CHAPEL pool of talented members who enjoy We provide a religious education Address Meadrow, Godalming, Surrey GU7 3JB leading worship, and a network of programme for children. Responding to visiting speakers who bring variety and needs of new families, we increased our Website www.unitariangodalming.org.uk fresh perspectives. provision with monthly activities in the Hall on the second Sunday of every Facebook Godalming Unitarians Our weekly midweek meditation, now in month and an All-Age Service, or a Minister Rev. Sheena Gabriel its 12th year, continues to have a loyal service to which families are welcome, following of members and non-members. on the fourth Sundays. Services 11.00am with children’s programme on the 2nd Sunday. We continued to hold services of a reflective/interfaith nature on the fifth We welcomed three new members. Intergenerational service bimonthly. Sunday in the month, with music, Sheena also conducted two child meditation and readings. naming ceremonies and our second same-sex wedding since registering our The prayer circle continued to meet premises for same-sex marriage. monthly on Thursday evenings. It offers fellowship and support with the chance The monthly Community Art/Cuppa to light candles and share concerns. In group continues for people in the contrast, the bi-monthly All-Age Services neighbourhood to socialise and engage and several Café Church gatherings in creative activity. In August, Godalming have enabled people to take part in Unitarians were represented at the first more exuberant community activity. Surrey Pride event with a stall and a contingent from our congregation joining This year we offered two Carol services the march.

18 HASTINGS REPORT community. This has been greatly Built between 1867-8, the church is enhanced by the recent repairs and located in the centre of town, opposite decoration to the interior of the church what was, for many years, a which have helped create a beautiful ground but is now a busy shopping and peaceful oasis – a spiritual home for centre. We’re a few doors away from the all, in the centre of a busy town. As a Quaker Meeting House with whom we result, the building is being increasingly share a close working relationship. The used by regular hirers. current average attendance for a Sunday Service is 12; although, this seems to be increasing. The church is in the process of appointing a new leader to succeed the outgoing Lay Pastor.

As well as the traditional 11am Sunday Service, Heart & Soul evening services are held on the last Thursday each month. Circle dancing is held twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays and Reiki sessions are offered by two Hastings congregation members on the first Thursday of each month. The church programs a regular series of events and HASTING UNITARIAN CHURCH workshops throughout the year. These Address South Terrace, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1SA have drawn attendees from outside the regular congregation, some of whom Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/hastings have began worshipping with us on Sundays. Lay Person in Charge Stephen Crowther Services Sunday 11.00am We have been in the process of producing a book that traces the history of the church and creates a portrait of who we are today. We’re hoping to have it published later this year. We are indebted to our friend, Francis Clarke- Lowes, who took on the enormous task of going through and editing mountains of documents and scraps of paper to create what will be a loving tribute to this community both past and present.

Although small, there is a warmth at the heart of the Hastings congregation that has fostered a loving and welcoming

20 HORSHAM REPORT One of Horsham’s most historic with the environmental movement, buildings, our church dates from 1721 becoming the venue for South East and is set in substantial front and back Climate Alliance (SECA) meetings, gardens near to the town’s main working with our Quaker friends on a shopping street, directly opposite the monthly recycling Repair Café, hosting a main bus station. The church building community environmentally-themed with its distinctive ‘Horsham Slab’ roof ‘World In Our Hands’ service in has a substantial and later-built Church September, and with Green Spirit Hall which, in addition to church use, is exhibitions and talks on sustainability in let to a wide variety of local groups, the Church Hall. providing a useful source of supple- mentary revenue. Formal church Doubtless the strong sense of membership is currently 26, with a togetherness and mutual support among number of non-member regular members of our church is a feature attenders and a further 15 Honorary universally shared by Unitarian Members and Friends. congregations. However, aspects which might be said to make Horsham rather Horsham Significantly, early in 2019 our church special is the creativity of our members took on the new name of ’Horsham and their concern both to make the Unitarians CIO’, reflecting achievement church more widely known and to make of Charitable Incorporated Organisation a tangible contribution to the general life Address Road, Horsham, status at end-2018. We saw this as of the community. potentially valuable early action in view West Sussex RH12 1SL of possible 2021-22 legislation making The concern to “let our light so shine CIO status a legal requirement for all before men” takes the form of Tel 01403 256788 charitable organisations. informational posters on the ‘Wayside Website www.horshamunitarianchurch.com ’ in our front garden; concerts, In June we hosted the LDPA’s Summer community services and theatrical Services Sundays 10.30am Outing and Quarterly Meeting and the performances open to all; active year also saw a range of outreach involvement in environmental issues and activities aimed at building awareness of activities as mentioned above, and our church in the community. We collection and grant of substantial funds participated very successfully in the to charities local and national as National Heritage Open Days nominated annually at our AGM. A programme, giving guided tours of the popular feature of our worship, which church to outside visitors. That Open may not be widespread, is the Day coincided with a ‘Climate organisation of Congregational Services Emergency’ exhibition by local environ- in which church members speak and mental groups in the church garden. contribute their thoughts and ideas on particular themes – the most recent one Indeed the year has been marked by being a delightfully creative service on increasing association of our church the theme of ‘poetry’.

22 BRIXTON REPORT

Report to come

London Brixton

BRIXTON UNITARIAN CHURCH Address Effra Road Chapel, 63 Effra Road, Brixton SW2 1BZ Website www.brixtonunitarians.org Lay Person in Charge Julian Smith Services Sundays 10am

24 GOLDERS GREEN REPORT Peace Appeal) in April 2012 £108,292 We have enjoyed a wide range of has been raised by Unitarians for Red activities reflecting the rich spiritual and Cross emergency appeals. Since 2006, cultural life so long characteristic of when the Gandhi Schweitzer Universal Golders Green Unitarians (GGU). These Kinship Appeal of Animal Free Research opportunities for us to gather together UK was founded at GGU at one of our are very much valued by all who attend World Congress of Faith celebrations of them. Like our popular evenings of animals, £52,182 has been raised by words and music raising funds for a Unitarians nationally for non-animal variety of charitable causes, they are medical research into cancer, diabetes, integral to our way of living our Unitarian neurological diseases and other values of kindness, openness and illnesses. Though only part of these respect. In our diverse ways in our liberal amounts was raised by GGU members religious community we are inspired to ourselves ours is by far the most try to live caring, harmonious and generous single congregation in the UK peaceful lives. supporting both these charities. As usual we held our annual Macmillan We have enjoyed services led not only coffee morning last September: a London Golders Green by me as GGU’s minister but also by feature of GGU’s charitable outreach members of our congregation, notably activities since 2001. Since 2004 we Rev. Jim Corrigall, Wade Miller-Knight have supported the Israeli-Palestinian GOLDERS GREEN UNITARIAN CHURCH and Michael Allured, and our popular peace village of the Oasis of Peace Address 31½ Hoop Lane, Golders Green, London NW11 8BS visiting preacher, Rev. Ashley Hills, our (Neve Shalom-Wahat al-Salam). These LDPA President. GGU’s open and charities thank you very warmly for all for Website www.goldersgreenunitarians.org Universalist ethos encourages us to your generous support. seek wisdom from many diverse spiritual Tel 020 8455 5000 and cultural sources and these are fully In March 2019 we unveiled a plaque FaceBook Golders Green Unitarians reflected in services which have honouring the memory of Mary and addressed our spiritual, philosophical, Robert Burns. Mary was a dedicated Minister Rev. Feargus O’Connor humanitarian and topical concerns. lifelong Unitarian and was a member of Our hope is to engage with the world GGU for over 55 years and served us in Services Sundays 11.00am outside our doors and speak to and many capacities for over half a century. touch all our hearts and our minds. Robert was a distinguished civil servant and both were well loved and truly We continue to raise vitally needed worthy of this expression of our gratitude funds for two charities adopted by and deep respect. We were delighted to GGU: the British Red Cross and Animal see GGU full to overflowing for this very Free Research UK. Unitarian and special occasion and among those we Universalist links to the Red Cross go welcomed were Mary’s and Robert’s back to the Nineteenth Century, when children, grandchildren and great- Clara Barton founded the American Red grandchildren as well as many other Cross. Since I instituted the Clara relatives and friends. Also present were Barton Disasters Emergency Appeal guests from Channing School. It was an (now called the Red Cross Memorial altogether truly memorable occasion.

26 HAMPSTEAD REPORT Climate offering a supportive and Rosslyn Hill Chapel in Hampstead is a regenerative space for people. ‘spiritual home for open minds’. We meet in a beautiful neo-gothic Chapel During the past four months, our built in 1862. With an appreciation for minister Rev Kate Dean has been on the arts, we are proud of our unusual maternity leave following the birth of her stained-glass windows, some of which son Ezra Hope Dean. During this time, are by Burne-Jones/William Morris and the Chapel was pleased to have the Henry Holliday and our newly restored support of our Ministry Assistant Shana Steinway grand piano. Begum and Pastoral Minister Rev Jim Corrigall. During Rev Kate’s phased We hold services at 11am – a traditional return March-May, Rev Jim will continue hymns/readings/sermon service with in his role and Kate will conduct two Children’s Chapel and Creche; and 7pm services per month, building to four which is more meditation based, services in May and back to full time contemplative and with a smaller ministry from June onwards. We are also congregation. The social hour after the very grateful for the extra contributions morning service is important to us and by our Administrator Angela Dobson and London Hampstead we host monthly brunches and pot luck Caretaker Humara Cleveland during this lunches. At 6pm there’s 30 Minute period. Mindfulness, a gathering featuring ROSSLYN HILL CHAPEL secular guided meditations. The As part of her ministry to support local Address 3 Pilgrim’s Place NW3 1NG Chapel’s community choir rehearses on families, Rev Kate hopes to establish a Wednesdays and performs roughly once monthly family-friendly coffee morning Tel 020 7433 3267 Facebook: Rosslyn Hill Chapel a month. In addition, we enjoy music on a Saturday to encourage mums and from a professional quartet or soloist dads to meet and socialise. The Chapel Website www.rosslynhillchapel.org.uk each month. There is something continues its commitment to social Minister Rev. Kate Dean happening in the Chapel grounds every action through the Cold Weather Monday evening, a series of monthly Shelter for the newly homeless during Services Sunday 11am and 6pm (Mindfulness) 7pm groups including poetry, discussion, the winter months and support for local evening worship and a book group. Community Sponsorship projects to Third Monday in the month Heart & Soul service 7pm rehouse refugee families. Over the past year the Chapel has continued with Interfaith Iftar during Our Children’s Chapel open their Ramadan, which started in 2018, and activities by saying ‘We are the Chapel hosted first time events and services of the Open Minds, Loving Hearts and including World Suicide Prevention Day, Helping Hands.’ This attitude extends to Transgender Day of Remembrance, all parts of our spiritual community with Interfaith Board Games during Interfaith inspiring services and events, a spirit of Week. Two Earth Vigils have been held warm hospitality and on-going social at the Chapel, the first coinciding with action projects. We’re proud to the Global Climate Strike in November welcome all into our open-minded and the second with Youth Strike for spiritual home.

28 KENSINGTON REPORT been maintained online and offer an We know how fortunate we are as a alternative small-group service with a congregation to have a reasonably sized contemplative atmosphere, and a modern building here in Notting Hill in chance for conversation. Heart and Soul central London. But like everyone our now has its very own website where programme has had to change and we resources can be shared and gatherings are now offering most things online listed www.heartandsoulcircles.org.uk

With a membership of around 50 and The quarterly tea dances which are average attendance on a Sunday of centred on offering hospitality to the around 40, things feel ‘steady’ in our LGBTQIA+ community and their allies community, though there is quite a provides a gender-neutral dance space, turnover of people coming and going. a warm welcome, and tea and cake. We A members’ and friends’ photo-board look forward to being able to do this helps us learn and remember each again when possible. other’s names. Our building has been home to some 40 other groups and We are hosts to the new West London organisations so was rarely quiet until GreenSpirit Group, open to everyone London Kensington the recent lockdown due to the Covid- who cares for our planet and seeks to 19 pandemic. We hope to resume unite the scientific and the spiritual. We connections with two local Eritrean are encouraging one another to live ESSEX CHURCH cultural support groups, with a tai chi more sustainably. As a congregation we Address 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8 4RT class for older people run by our local have declared a climate and ecological borough, with a Heart Meditation group, emergency and have committed Tel 020 7221 6514 with a local choir The Kensington ourselves to reducing our individual and Singers and with a OneLight Gathering congregational environmental footprint. Twitter essexchurch held monthly by ministers from the A new and efficient church heating Website www.kensington-unitarians.org.uk OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation, to system and increasing use of LED mention just a few. lighting have reduced our energy bills, Facebook www.facebook.com/KensingtonUnitarians but there is plenty more to be done. Our own activities focus on Sunday Minister Rev. Sarah Tinker morning services where we are enjoying Maintenance is a challenge with our 70s Services Sundays 11.00am the challenge of following monthly building and it’s not always easy to find themes. Our Sunday music offerings workpeople at a reasonable price here in continue to evolve and this year we are London. But we’re grateful to have a glad to have Abby Lorimier as our music place where our Kensington Unitarians scholar, playing the cello. Our services community can meet and invite others to are planned by a small worship team join us in approaching life from a and we are always keen to encourage spiritual, open-hearted, open-minded others to get more involved. perspective. May it soon return.

The monthly Thursday evening spiritual gatherings, called Heart and Soul, have

30 As we change we are growing, and by visitors and our own local faith diversifying. A new sign with a rainbow leaders, including our member Eleanor stripe and our community garden are Chiari, who lead guided conversations. signs of vitality. In 2019 we held our first arts project, Jam and Jam, telling stories We have welcomed many visitors and and singing, as well as making jam; a set up a new form of membership. Our part of the Lewisham Age Against the live giving supports our members’ Machine Festival. attendance at Unitarian events, and we give a Lindsey Press book to every new member. In June 2019 we camped in Dorset and were able to join with Bridport Unitarians. We also brought a yurt to our garden twice in the year for a community meal, Songs of Universal Peace, jam making and drumming.

Our garden redesigned by member and In May 2019 we formally welcomed our landscape gardener Susan Worrell London Lewisham Unity minister, Claire MacDonald, with a became part of our community service featuring the Rainbows Across development mission. Local community Borders choir and a full house (above). and friends planted seasonal vegetables Address 41 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2TS Other special services over the year and we have fruit trees and bushes. The Website www.lewishamunity.org have welcomed visitors such as Amy garden has been used for meals and Sharrocks, who took part in our water outdoor gatherings. We are among the Facebook Lewisham Unity gathering, local speaker Ian Mowl from declarers of the climate emergency and Green Spirit, and, recently, members of recently hosted over forty visitors at a Twitter @LewishamUnity Forest Hill , as well as visiting Climate Action Lewisham. We see this Minister Rev. Dr Claire Macdonald lay leaders and musicians. and working with other faith groups as part of our mission. Services Sundays at 11.00am We continue to host a trans-gender memorial service in November. Member Our hashtag is #sacredmeetssocial . Olly Robinson has led solstice and Reminding ourselves that we are called equinox themed services. Joel Xhaard to both inner spiritual reflection and to leads story sharing and Dances of work in the community. Our community Universal Peace, and Tatiana Spencer can respond to a borough on the cusp leads song and chants. Two members of change. Lewisham takes more LEWISHAM UNITY REPORT are on the WSC course this year. Remi refugee families than any other borough, We are on the busy Bromley Road in south Catford. Fadare has led a popular and spiritually and with Croydon is London Borough of The Peace Pole in our front garden, instigated by Lori themed drum circle for several years and Culture for 2021. We feel grateful to be Winters, says in many languages ‘peace will prevail’. It we plan to resume it on Sunday part of this growing and changing local has become a local landmark and part of the interfaith afternoons from September. We meet world. It’s a moveable feast of events, Peace Walk trail. We belong a broad community of on the third Sunday in the morning. Our possibilities and projects, a space to faiths in our neighbourhood: including the synagogue, 4th (and occasionally 5th) Sundays are rest, to pause, and to feel a sense of the Anglican church, and the mosque and . usually committed to Café Connect, led belonging.

32 after lockdown. It will also house the We also participate in activities around office of the National Lottery Heritage homelessness, street safety/police Fund – supported heritage project, relationships for young people, mental which is currently being launched. The health and more. Newington Green Meeting House dates back to 1708, and it has just undergone A community building initiative, the an extensive renovation – again thanks Newington Green Alliance, has grown to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. and recently held a well-attended public meeting. New Unity works alongside New Unity’s average Sunday Gathering Hackney Citizens, a branch of Citizens UK. attendance in 2019 was 60. The congregation is diverse, with people of New Unity donates its weekly Sunday different age groups, ethnic backgrounds collections to local charities, such as and walks of life. The Wickers Charity, which provides advice and assistance to youth in Hackney and North London Action for the Homeless, a Stoke Newington- based drop-in centre for the homeless London New Unity and in need. NEWINGTON GREEN MEETING HOUSE New Unity’s virtual Sunday Gatherings, Address 39a Newington Green, London N16 9PR held via Zoom during the pandemic, New Unity maintained a variety of attract well over 100 people per week New Unity Upper Street, 277a Upper Street, London, N1 2TZ activities over the past year. Weekly from across the globe. Tel 020 7354 0774 Sunday Gatherings and the Bright Lights Children’s Group have continued New Unity is committed to countering Email [email protected] Website www.new-unity.org at the local primary school. New Unity’s sexism, homophobia, racism, and groups and teams – including those for classism. We are “radically inclusive” Minister Andy Pakula self-identified men and self-identified and reject othering, provoking guilt and Services Sunday 11am at Newington Green Meeting House, women – thrive. Our Ministry Team, for hierarchies. There is no set of mandatory people prepared to commit to beliefs, and we insist that people here 39a Newington Green, London N16 9PR developing skills of ministry, is growing. have the right – and responsibility – to think for themselves. Social justice and social action are priorities for New Unity. We are a Living A unique aspect of New Unity is that it is Wage employer and aligned with a non-religious church. All are welcome LONDON NEW UNITY REPORT Extinction Rebellion. We currently whatever they believe, but New Unity’s Our building on Upper Street, Islington is usually collect non-perishable food which is Gatherings, groups, and events assume referred to simply as “New Unity Upper Street” and is donated to Hackney Food Banks Stoke a world that is controlled not by used as office and meeting space as well as for special Newington. The migrants’ rights project supernatural powers but by natural and events and services. The famous building on we set up and supported, The Unity understandable forces. We insist that Newington Green, the Newington Green Meeting Project, is successful in making change in the world must come from House, is where Gatherings and ceremonies will once applications to the Home Office to help human beings, and that no supernatural again be held when we can resume physical meetings individuals get recourse to public funds. entity can or is going to do that work for us.

34 from their personal stories to their stories which are uplifting and heartfelt. political, spiritual and social views and beliefs. The atmosphere is comfortable, Whilst we are a small community, many and people feel able to talk about of the members come regularly, and as a personal issues and deeper concerns. result there is a strong feeling of After the service, when we take familiarity and friendship within the refreshments together, this gives us a group. There is a solid cohesion space to enquire after each other and amongst us; we trust and care for each take more time to support or celebrate other. Newcomers are encouraged and that person’s concerns. We always light welcomed by all, there is no sense of a candle for the people who cannot clique or isolation, as Julian says at the come to the service and it is comforting beginning of every service, “all are to know that if you cannot make a welcome here”. London Stratford service that your fellow Unitarians are thinking of you, praying for you, or just Finally, it is important to remember that holding you in their thoughts. Stratford Unitarian and Free Church is STRATFORD UNITARIAN AND FREE CHRISTIAN CHURCH more than a Sunday Service. We have a The services are structured and well vibrant new ‘Art Gallery’ in the church Address West Ham Lane, Stratford, London E15 4PH organised, either following weekly which reflects the creativity of the Website themes (led by Julian, our minister) or on congregation. The Friday Crafts Club is www.ukunitarians.org.uk/stratford more specific topics when led by a something to be admired. The collective Facebook Stratford Unitarian & Free Christian Church member of the congregation. They are talents of the group are second to none. always planned in advance and we are It doesn’t matter what skills you have, Lay Person in Charge Julian Meek notified of what will be taking place the again, ‘all are welcome’. There is also a Services following week. The minister always Bereavement Group, various outreach Sunday 10.30am gives time during the service to reflect projects offering support to the local and on the message or reading he may have wider community. Each week, we are STRATFORD REPORT been given and reflect more generally: fortunate to have fantastic musicians Our Church is an open and welcoming on some very diverse concepts, rather our place in the church, in our lives; in and singers, especially Steve who plays space for people of all faiths and than just being a tokenistic bible reading the wider community and our place in the piano for us for the majority of the denominations to congregate and that doesn’t hold much value, the world. These begin by often being services. We also sing along to and discuss their beliefs. These beliefs are significance or meaning for the quite general or quite philosophical in listen to his compositions, but they often widely varied and freely expressed by all participants of a service. nature, but they serve as a spring board make us well up and cry. Singing is a big members of the congregation. There is for a more person-centred approach part of the service each week and an ethos, led by Julian, our minister that One of the most important aspects for where you can take time to nurture your people really enjoy being able to just let it is ‘our’ church and we shape the the congregation is probably our thoughts - to grow ideas and to process go and sing without judgement or services and content through our candles of joy and concern. These allow the significance of the reading for prejudice. One of the things that most contributions. One of the most people to invite the community to yourself and or others. Often people will people don’t always associate with interesting aspects is Phillip’s weekly support them and share in our joys and contribute something they have written church, is in fact how much fun it can bible reading. He chooses a reading sorrows. All are welcome to light a or read. We have our resident poets and be. Here at Stratford, we enjoy all of our based on the theme and invites us all to candle and speak briefly about important creative writers as we like to think of time with the church and the people in it. digest an orthodox, more modern or events or thoughts that have recently them. Any member of the congregation It is uplifting and a wonderful positive personal interpretation. We all enjoy this occurred. This is when we find out the can contribute but we have two experience for us to be a part of the immensely as it gives us time to reflect most about the people that we are with, members who regularly write poems or community.

36 BETHNAL GREEN SOUTHEND ON SEA & THE CHALICE FOUNDATION During the summer of 2019 and after The Chalice Foundation continues to dedicated efforts to sustain the services support the mission and social action in the Meeting house the congregation activities at Mansford Street. Simple decided that they could no longer Gifts continues as the main Unitarian continue. They asked the LDPA to assist inspired activity on the site heading up them in closing the Unitarian activities. work with residents from the East end After exploring the limited opportunities and the largely Bangladeshi community. that were possible with a very small core Volunteers support part-time staff in group of people the congregation voted offering a lunch, children’s club and to close. work with parents. Sewing, language studies and friendship groups also form The LDPA Council and District Minister part of Simple Gifts’ work. We are met with the Chair of the congregation grateful to the group of volunteers who to receive any suggestions for the future make this work possible and new use of the resource. It is most likely that volunteers and donations are welcome. the property will be sold in the summer. Lewes In the meantime, a small independent The Chalice Foundation manages some youth charity is continuing to use the small flats which are let to people at fair space in the week. WESTGATE CHAPEL rents and other space is offered for 92A High Street, Lewes, Sussex various community groups. The main We thank the members of the tenant is a liberal charity supporting Live congregation, the Officers and the Currently the congregation is not meeting at the Arts and Drama. Trustees for all their work and efforts in recent years and we hope to have a small Meeting House known as Westgate Chapel. There is a possibility that a Unitarian service to celebrate past achievements Ministry experiment might take place and successes soon. here in the future.

38 MAIDSTONE REPORT

The church has been in Maidstone since 1736. An extract from the original Trust Deed states ‘The True Intent of this deed is that the premises and building be used and enjoyed as a meeting house for the public worship of God by the Congregation of Protestant dissenters at Maidstone’.

The congregation is still here, and worship continues, but now in the Unitarian tradition (having developed from the dissenters of the 18th century). Maidstone Although small in number we are still a community that follows the ethos of freedom, truth and tolerance. We add to Address Market Buildings, Earl Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1HP that honest doubt and seeking and sharing as we tread our spiritual paths. Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/maidstone Shared also are cups of tea, sympathy, information, laughter and joy. Facebook Maidstone Unitarians Services Sunday services 11.00am As a congregation of quiet faith we are, however, not silent. We support No service 5th Sunday of a month endeavours that will improve life in the world, for all its peoples and creatures and for the environment.

40 OXFORD REPORT We meet weekly in the Chapel of Harris A highlight of our year has been our Manchester College, Oxford. It is a Engagement Group, exploring topics on lovely building, whose beautiful stained the theme of Living Faith. We have also glass windows by William Morris and had some more unusual services; for Edward Burne-Jones were completed in example a Pottery and Contemplation 1899. service in which, instead of a sermon, a local potter used his wheel to make a We do not have a permanent minister so pot. One Sunday we were led by a our services are taken by a combination professional singing teacher in various of visiting preachers and our own exercises and songs to improve our members. Because the College trains hymn singing. Members enjoy a monthly students for the Unitarian ministry, we walk, a discussion group and a Radical have often been able to offer Film and Theatre-going group. We try to placements to student ministers. For the provide a variety of services to appeal to last year we have been fortunate to have all our members and we pride ourselves Michael Allured as student minister on our willingness to explore different leading our worship every month. We ways of worship. Oxford have approximately 25-30 attendees at MANCHESTER COLLEGE CHAPEL SOCIETY our services and one service every BELOW : Members from Oxford who month has activities for children. attended FUSE 2020 in Worthing

Address Harris Manchester College Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TD Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/oxford Facebook Oxford Unitarians Services Sundays 11.00am

42 READING REPORT Reading Fellowship has continued to Our October service was led by Rev hold services on a monthly basis Patrick Timperley whose theme was the throughout the year, save for a break in poet and minister R. S. Thomas. A August. We use the meeting rooms of a fascinating insight into his life and works. local Fairtrade shop/centre RISC - Reading International Solidarity Centre Our service in November was the for our services. Remembrance Day service and our AGM and in December Gwenda and Last year Sarah Benfield led a service in Torkill kindly welcomed us to their house January 2019 on the theme of Change/ for a service of readings and carols with Reading Fellowship things that change a life. mince pies. Always an enjoyable service. Our good friend of the fellowship Rev The number of attendees has ranged Peter Hewis led our worship in February from 5 to 12 people. We continue to Meets at RISC: Reading International Solidarity Centre, on the theme of “what we have been struggle to publicise and to grow. Our 35-39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS makes us what we are”. A good number continued use of the RISC centre is of us made him welcome. The photo good, although the introduction of Email [email protected] (left) is of three retired Ministers named parking charges is not helpful. Peter! Hewis, Hughes and Godfrey. The Unitarian posters have been put up Worship Leaders Rev. Dr Peter Godfrey, Jeff Teagle on the notice board in the hope of and visiting speakers In March we were pleased that our attracting interest. member Hester led our service with a Services Second Sunday at 3.00pm theme of spirituality, which included a In January 2020 Sarah led a Heart and circle dance to the music Bamboo Flute. Soul service on the theme of light and In April and September Jeff and Sue led tea lights were lit as well as the Chalice the worship. In April the discussion was to welcome in the new year. about the General Assembly meetings, in September there was a musical Rev Martin Whitell is leading our service theme following their weekend in Great in February and Rev Peter Godfrey is Hucklow for the Unitarian Music Society. leading the worship in March with a In May another member Mphala led a theme of simplicity. Heart and Soul form of worship with a theme of Grace. Our community is special because everyone feels at home with friends. Our In June Sarah led the service with a relaxed style of service enables people theme of the kindness of strangers, to join in and share thoughts and having recently returned from an experiences as they feel able. One of extended time abroad due to her our members, Hester brings beautiful husband being unwell on holiday. flowers for the table and sometimes In July we held our annual flower service leads us in gentle circle dances. when everyone brought a flower or two and took a different one home. The service was led by Rev Peter Godfrey.

44 RICHMOND REPORT Unitarians, Anglicans, Muslims and We are based in a quiet street in the Humanists, seeking a common language heart of Richmond upon Thames, a and practice of spirituality that stone’s throw from Richmond Bridge. transcends the usual religious barriers. Richmond Our lovely Victorian church was built in the 1890s, and includes stained-glass As well as this we run a variety of windows by Edward Burne-Jones. occasional activities. Sometimes our RICHMOND AND PUTNEY UNITARIAN CHURCH Sunday services are preceded by a Our Sunday morning services generally contemplative breakfast, or followed by Address Ormond Road, Richmond, Surrey TW10 6TH attract around 20-40 people, and are a sociable lunch; we have experimented Website conducted by our minister, Rev. Simon in running day retreats at the church; we www.rpuc.org.uk Ramsay, or a visiting preacher. hold occasional discussion forums and Twitter @RPUnitarian Occasionally we hold congregation-led in the darker months put on a illuminated services involving readings, music, labyrinth meditation (pictured above). Facebook Richmond and Putney Unitarian Church meditation and sharing. Twice a month, Minister we run a Sunday creche to enable We are part of the Vineyard lunch Rev. Simon Ramsay parents of young children to attend our product – collaborating with other Services Sundays at 11.00am services. churches in the area to provide a lunch every Sunday of the year to homeless Complementing our Sunday services, and vulnerable people in our community we have a number of activities. These – and are seeking to form partnerships include a weekly mindfulness/meditation, with local charities and community weekly coffee with the minister sessions groups to open up our building for at the scenic Tide Tables café under activities to help people in our local Richmond Bridge, a monthly journalling community – for example, our Dancewell group and a monthly interfaith spiritual class for people suffering MS, dementia companions group. The latter and other mobility-impairing conditions. emphasises an important strand of our In a nutshell, we are a friendly, ministry here at Richmond – reaching welcoming and inclusive community out to people of all faiths and none – which tries to live out its ethos of being and already includes an eclectic mix of a church of ‘open hearts and open minds’. 46 SEVENOAKS REPORT Two of our congregation married in July Sunday morning worship remains the (congratulations Emily and Scott), and core congregational activity for with sadness there was a funeral for Sevenoaks Unitarians, and, in addition to long-standing and committed member our Minister Daniel Costley’s two originally from Hungary, John Mason. We services per month, we have had a wide interred John’s ashes close to his good range of excellent visiting preachers for friend Gabor Kereki in the churchyard. second and fourth Sundays. We have Other funerals were held for residents also begun to encourage and support from a nearby residential home, to which members of the congregation to lead we are building strong links. worship, with a forward focus of increased engagement for our youth.

Alongside worship, we have continued to run a Children’s Chapel each first and third Sunday, under Janet Costley’s excellent leadership, with support from Jim, Jenny and Wilna. There is a core of Sevenoaks four children, and there are many other occasional attenders. Our Singing Meditations group, led by Jenny, also SEVENOAKS UNITARIAN MEETING HOUSE continues, providing an opportunity for Address 5 Westerham Road, Bessels Green, Sevenoaks, congregation and local community to find calm and refuge on a weekday Kent TN13 2PX evening. This connection is also inspiring a 2020 Website www.sevenoaksunitarians.org We have been delighted to welcome project to become a ‘Dementia Friendly’ Facebook SevenoaksUnitarians Esther as a member and our new congregation, with appropriate talks and organist. Esther and her husband Archie training. Other projects for 2020 include Minister Rev. Daniel Cotley have also led a new Singing in Parts a regular coffee morning for all who are group on the third Sunday of the month. lonely or in need of company, and formal Services Every Sunday 10.30am links to the Sevenoaks Welcomes Children’s chapel 1st and 3rd Sundays, 10.30am A new video discussion group on the Refugees groups and an associated arts first Sunday of the month has encouraged project. wider discussion of topical issues relating to, for example, the environment, Lettings of the buildings have continued. sustainability and religious evangelism. Alongside the long-standing WEA In formal terms, our membership has groups, we now also have a U3A Music increased, and our average attendance, Group, two Pilates sessions, and the including leaders and children, over the Sevenoaks Shakespeare Society. whole of 2019 was around 20, although we were over 50 for our Carols by We continue to make our mark in the Candlelight service in December. community, supporting good causes both locally and nationally.

48 TENTERDEN REPORT We were one of only five religious The Tenterden Unitarian congregation groups across the county hosting events today continues to meet in the Meeting for Kent County Council’s Interfaith House built by earlier members in the Week activities, and we welcomed early 1700s. Meeting on the first, third around 25 local people to a talk and and fifth Sundays, a wide range of discussion on the congregation, its preachers and visitors are welcomed, formation, its purpose and its formidable along with our Minister Daniel Costley role in the development of Tenterden in who leads each first Sunday. earlier years. Local people previously unaware of the regular visits of Benjamin Although scattered across a wide Franklin, Joseph Priestly and Ellen Terry geographical area, the regular were intrigued, and delighted to congregation of 12 work closely discover the congregation founded the together, both on Sundays and other town’s cricket club – still a strong local days. For Spring and Summer, the attraction. Our Carols by Candlight monthly Singing Meditations brought service the following month brought congregation and community together, some new faces from our Interfaith day. as did the quarterly music concerts, Tenterden arranged by one of our organists, Assiduous attention to our building by Andrew Butler, himself the son of a the Committee, and with considerable previous Minister here. The concerts help from Chris Daynes, has ensured THE OLD MEETING HOUSE also raised awareness of our building we are water-tight, rot-free and clean- Address Ashford Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6LL and history, along with donations for guttered for the coming times. musicians’ chosen charities. Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/tenterden Plans for 2020 include some Our new Green Spirit group, led by experimental meditation and poetry Facebook Tenterden Unitarians Renee Neilson meets monthly to discuss meetings, investigation of greater use of Minister Rev. Daniel Costley and agree green targets and projects for the building by the wider community, members and congregation collectively, further concerts and a new, smaller Services First Sunday 3.00pm reflecting our Unitarian commitment to a spiritual group to meet on the second sustainable future. and fourth Sundays. Third & fifth Sunday 11.00am

50 Feargus O’Connor, Julian Smith, Francis Clarke-Lowes, Julian Meek, Bert Clough and Wade Miller-Knight on the other Sundays. They gave us such diverse and interesting presentations so the tea-time discussions following a service were, as usual, greatly enjoyed.

As always, we have been very grateful to Rosemary and Alan Ruston for hosting and tidying at the end also setting up the house meetings; especially the the room for the service; Steven and Christmas lunch. One meeting in Wendy in turn, provided the music for summer was held at Amersham in each service and a rota for flowers has Beryl’s garden. Members of our been kept going. The quarterly Fellowship have kept us aware of the Newsletter has continued to be wider Unitarian community during the produced by Steven and Camilla with year, by attending General Assembly, contributions and service summaries Watford Unitarian Discovery Holiday, Fuse and from some Fellowship members. Steven LDPA meetings. Alan and Rosemary puts the Newsletter on the website (and organise a collection of items for the Facebook) to which Pat includes the Meets at , 150 Church Road, Refugee Project in Watford for which service plan. Rosemary has continued Watford WD17 4QB our small Fellowship usually manage to as Treasurer, Beryl, as Secretary and provide a large accumulation of goods Alan attended the GA as our Website www.ukunitarians.org.uk/watford as well as monetary donations. Alan and representative and has arbitrated, as Rosemary represented the Fellowship chairman, whenever required. Facebook Watford Unitarian Fellowship by attending Watford’s Interfaith Services Monthly First Sunday 3.00pm Pilgrimage in November. The Pilgrimage Sadly, Wendy died on 7th January after visited 6 places of worship this year and a decline of about eight months. She only one was Christian! joined the Fellowship just after her return to Britain in 1997. She alternated with We have welcomed Valerie Walker to Muriel playing the piano at the services, the Fellowship and have been able to taking over completely from her when persuade her to play the piano for some Muriel felt unable to play. Wendy also services. The Fellowship is still in contact alternated with Steven in providing with past members who have moved: Nora interval music. Wendy played the piano WATFORD UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP REPORT Trueick, Colin Mills and our Universalist for monthly services and she also sent Monthly First Sunday services have been held, as friends Amy and Paul in the USA. cards to members when they were sick before at Watford Friends Meeting House. Two of or for birthdays. She was friendly with these services have been led by Alan Ruston for which Sincere thanks are due to all who have everyone and often gave depth in we are extremely grateful. There was a congregation- contributed to the functioning of the conversation at our mid-monthly led service in June when the theme “Beginnings” was Fellowship: Pat has made the after- meetings. Such a loyal member travelled used. This produced a wide range of interesting service teas with assistance from the forty miles between Bletchley and offerings. We were extremely pleased to welcome Rosemary and Camilla; Alan, Wendy Watford for more than 22 years. She will visiting service leaders: Martin Whitell, Ashley Hills, and others help with the washing-up be sorely missed.

52