The United Reformed Church is one of the smaller mainstream denominations in Great Britain, but plays a dynamic and challenging part in the British Christian community. It has brought together English Presbyterians, English, Welsh and Scottish Congregationalists, and members of the Churches of Christ, through unions in 1972, 1981 and 2000. Sixty-eight thousand people make up around 1500 congregations, with nearly 700 ministers, paid and unpaid.
As a “United” Church we believe passionately that all God’s people should be one. We seek to work with Christians of all traditions, and rejoice in being part of more than 400 Local Ecumenical Partnerships, with the Methodist Church and others. We have links with Churches across Great Britain through Churches Together and worldwide through the Council for World Mission and the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
As a “Reformed” Church we uphold the historic Trinitarian creeds of the church, we believe that the Bible is central to our life and worship and that all Christians are called to share in the ministry of the church. Decision making is done through our meetings at local, regional and whole church levels, rather than by individuals. We believe that we need to let God continue to ‘reform’ and change us, as people and as a church.
We are committed to the equality of all, and to theological and cultural diversity. We are a multicultural church, rejoicing in the gifts of members from across the world and seeking to hold together a wide variety of understandings; the valuing of different insights helps the church understand the wonder of God.
Our statement of faith can be found here.