Our roots

Being reformed sets us in a stream of tradition that goes back 500 years. In 1517 Martin Luther launched a movement of challenge in the Church that we call the Protestant Reformation.

Changes came quickly. Bibles were translated and printed in languages everybody used (not just in Latin). There was a new emphasis on the importance of the whole church and everybody in it – members and ministers together.

Being reformed is part of our DNA. It reflects our continual aim of reforming ourselves to be a Church for the present day.

Being reformed means that we delight in exploring the Bible, we do not fear change, and we try to run our churches in ways that take everyone’s insight and contribution seriously.

The creation of the United Reformed Church in 1972 formally merged the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England and Wales. One Member of Parliament at the time described this merger as: “one of the most historic measures in the history of the Christian churches in this country.”

The denomination expanded when Churches of Christ joined it in 1981, followed by Scottish Congregationalists in 2000.

The URC is a nonconformist Church. Put most simply, this means that we are not an ‘established’ Church, with a formal link to civil authority like, for example, the Church of England has.

However, the URC is committed to working closely with Churches of all traditions, in prayer and social action, and many of our local churches are now united with local churches from other traditions (Baptist, Church of England, or Methodist to name a few).

Our organisation structure

The URC has a three-tier structure, which is open for everyone to participate in.

Local churches have an Elders’ Meeting, in which the Ministers and Elders share pastoral and spiritual oversight and leadership, and a Church Meeting, where all members gather to seek God’s will and to discuss the life and work of the church.

At a wider level, the URC has 13 Synods: the national Synods of Scotland and Wales plus eleven regional Synods across England. Each provides oversight of about 100 local churches and is led by a Synod Moderator.

The General Assembly of the URC is its ultimate decision-making body. It meets every year to celebrate, discuss and make decisions about the life and work of the church.

Committees

The General Assembly has several committees which look after a range of areas including communications, education and learning, discipleship, mission, safeguarding, ecumenical work, global justice and church and society.

Getting involved

Local churches offer a huge range of community activities in addition to Sunday worship, which is at the centre of URC life. For details of activities at our church, ask a member of the congregation or visit the URC Church Directory.

Becoming a member

People often ask whether they need to ‘join’ their church and become a member. This is not essential but, for those who decide to take this step, it can deepen their sense of belonging and it entitles a person to share in decisions about the life and future of the local church.

The URC encourages regular attendees to consider church membership when they start to think of a particular place of worship as ‘their church’.

Church members commit to supporting the church through giving, action, and by taking part in the Church Meeting, as well as through regular attendance at worship.

If you would like to know more about becoming a member, please speak to the minister or an Elder – they will be delighted to answer any questions you may have.