Membership Directory and Reports 2019-20 Message from the District Minister Contents
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WELCOME WELCOME LDPA London 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 BILLINGSHURST UNITARIANS 6 BRIGHTON 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 GODALMING 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 HORSHAM 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 United Kingdom 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 SEVENOAKS 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 Sussex RH14 9QS At The Chapel, we value and seek to Historically, Unitarianism 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 West Sussex. 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 Medway 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.