Fifty years ago on 5 October 1972, the Annual Assembly of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church met for the final times, together, in Methodist Central Hall Westminster, where they dissolved themselves and formed the United Reformed Church.
In the afternoon the new United Reformed Church (URC) and friends filled Westminster Abbey for a service broadcast on the BBC.
This was the first iteration of the URC, followed by a union in 1981 with Churches of Christ, and in 2000 with Scottish Congregationalists.
Despite the unfortunate cancellation of our Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving due to rail strikes, local churches around the denomination marked the day with special services, delicious spreads, the lighting of candles, and the sharing of photos of the Uniting Assembly.
URC staff also marked the anniversary through several interviews with a variety of Christian media outlets.
The Revd Dr John Bradbury appeared on UCB Radio’s to reflect on the special day. Listen to his interview here.
The Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of the URC General Assembly, and the Revd Dr Michael Hopkins spoke to the Religion Media Centre about the significance of the union and the outlook of the URC today. Read their interview here.
The United Church in Rhyl has recorded a programme for BBC Radio Wales which will be broadcast on 9 October, which will include some of the 50th anniversary worship resources. Listen to the programme here.
The Revd Fiona Bennett, also appeared of Premier Christian Radio’s Inspirational Breakfast with Esther Higham’s to talk about the anniversary and how the jubilee principles of the Old Testament are inspiring the URC to seek God for the future. Listen here.
Council for World Mission
The Revd Dr JooSeop Keum, General Secretary for Council for World Mission (CWM), visited Church House with the Revd Dr Michael Jagessar, CWM Mission Secretary, to meet with the Revd Dr John Bradbury, URC General Secretary, Karen Campbell, Secretary for Global and Intercultural Ministries, and the Revd Philip Brooks, Deputy General Secretary (Mission), to congratulate the URC on its 50th anniversary and present an engraved silver plaque as a gift.
Christian Aid
Christian Aid gave the URC a shout out on its social media channels, thanking God for the denomination’s dedication to social justice and giving. It also prayed for the future of the Church.
Pacific Theological College Fiji
The Revds Mark Meachin and Melanie Smith celebrated the URC’s 50th birthday with morning tea and a delcious looking spread at the Pacific Theological College in Fiji.
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Christ Church URC Rayleigh
Christ Church URC in Rayleigh celebrated 50 years of the URC at their Harvest Lunch with this lovely cup cakes.
Pype Hayes URC
Pype Hayes URC lit a peace candle to mark the special anniversary.
Reigate Park URC
Reigate Park URC welcomed the Revd Bridget Banks, Southern Synod Moderator, to a special service to celebrate the jubilee where candles were lit and Jane was welcomed into church membership. This was followed by a ‘bring and share’ lunch.
Downing Place URC
Downing Place URC in Cambridge enjoyed cake which was cut by Pamela Cressey and the Revd Prof D M Thompson, who were both involved in the union activities of 1972.
Christ Church LEP
This teddy was presented to Christ Church LEP in Gratham by Val Odell to mark the 50th anniversary. It was to travel to London for the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving, but instead enjoyed a special service on Sunday. Photo: Leslie Mees.
The URCs of Eastcote and Northwood Hills
the URCs of Eastcote and Northwood Hills of celebrated the jubilee with a morning service at Northwood Hills with friends from St John’s URC in Northwood.
Members decorated the church beautifully and thanked the Worship Resources Committee for producing the material for the special celebration.
Shree Morrissey, Church Secretary, said: “Our worship group used the ‘living water’ resource. It was brilliant. Thank you.”
Baxter URC
Members of Baxter URC, Trinity Methodist Church, both in Kidderminster, and Worcester URC gathered in the spirit of ecumenism to commemorate 50 years of the URC by sharing an outdoor service and the planting of a tree.
The service was led by the Revds Andrew Mann-Ray, Baxter URC and Area Minister for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and Nick Collison, the Minister of Trinity Methodist Church who also planted and blessed the tree.
East Midlands Synod
The East Midlands Synod marked the milestone by bringing together many hands to craft a grand jubilee banner.
The banner, first unfurled at the Synod’s jubilee celebration last month, is composed of numerous square panels created by members of churches from around the East Midlands.
The squares celebrate the buildings, life and witness in a wide variety of styles and media, all unified by incorporating pieces of the golden fabric which was sent out to all churches along with the invitation to contribute. The names of other churches are given in the pennants along the bottom, so that every church in the Synod is represented.
The project was devised, guided and assembled by Ally Ford of St Andrew’s with Castle Gate URC, Nottingham, with members of the church’s craft club lending assistance.
The Synod also held a gathering at the De Vere Jubilee Conference Centre at the University of Nottingham on 10 September where the Revd Fiona Bennett, Moderator of General Assembly, was guest of honour.
Together with Synod Moderator the Revd Geoffrey Clarke, Fiona addressed the main act of worship on the themes of “Commemorate, Celebrate and Create” and presided at Communion.
The all-age worship was devised and led by the Revds Camilla Veitch, Synod Clark, and Ruth Maxey and included hymns and worship songs, birthday cupcakes and a rendition of “Happy Birthday”, colouring and Lego.
Those present were also given the chance to write things for which they were thankful for and given ribbons to tie onto a line, and representatives of six churches received special plaques marking the awards they had won from the East Midlands Mission Fund.
Crafting and creativity was one of several workshops offered on the day, as well as music and worship, an enactment of the jubilee drama, poetry and praise.
Guests from the St Philip’s Centre in Leicester offered a feast of faith and food, with displays and edible tasters from several different faiths and cultures, while Jane Woolmer led workshops on ‘creating a greener future’ on behalf of A Rocha UK.
All activities were aimed at people of all ages, but activities included a chill-out zone and a prayer walk around the lake. The day concluded with a “URC future forum” led by Fiona and the Revd Geoffrey Clarke, Moderator of the East Midlands Synod.
Eastbourne celebrations
East Team, made up of four local ecumenical partnerships, where the Revd Memona Shahbaz is Minister, celebrated the URC’s jubilee on 15 October with a special service.
Local achievements were also celebrated at the event; Revd Memona completing EM2, Imogen Lydiatt, aged nine, gaining a Lundie Memorial Award, and Zeerak Shahbaz, aged 19 years, receiving a lay preaching certificate.
The deputy mayor and local member of parliament also attended the special service to cut a cake with Memona and the Revd Nigel Uden, former Moderator of the URC General Assembly and guest speaker.
Memona said: “May God’s grace and blessings surround United Reformed Church and continue to guide us.”
Main image: Simone Maghenzani/Twitter