We understand ‘worship’ according to the verb’s original Old English meaning – to recognise worth. In this sense, ‘worship’ is something everybody already does – albeit usually unconsciously. The question for us all then becomes not “Should we worship?” but “What should we worship?”

Not everyone these days believes in God as traditionally understood but almost all of us recognise a natural desire to celebrate what is good about life, humanity and the Earth we share. Most people also know that human encounter is preferable to a life of isolation. Our Sunday gatherings are therefore a celebration of community and the meanings we find.

Services follow what may seem at first glance a fairly typical ‘Nonconformist’ format with prayers/words for reflection, hymns and readings plus a talk from the person leading – usually our minister. Readings chosen are drawn not only from the Bible but from any source that is found to be meaningful – poetry, literature, non-fiction, or even the scriptures of other world faiths. This reflects the Unitarian conviction that truth comes from many sources – including of course our own personal experience.

A less familiar feature of the service is the lighting of a chalice flame at the beginning of each gathering. The flaming chalice is the internationally-recognised symbol of the Unitarian movement – the flame representing the light of truth, and the chalice representing the communal dimension.

As a non-dogmatic community, the intention is to help each person deepen their own faith in Life/God/Spirit according to their own best understanding. Our evolving tradition is therefore not a straightjacket but something that is free to change and develop.

Our services celebrate the positive values we share rather than requiring those present to conform to a creed.

David Usher Introduces Unitarianism

UK Unitarian TV

Why I am Unitarian by James Barry

National UK Unitarian website

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations

The National Unitarian Fellowship

Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth

Unitarian Church in Hungary’s Links Page (hundreds of links)

100 Questions that Non-Members Ask About Universal Unitarianism

The Send A Child To Hucklow Fund

UCCN – Unitarian Publicity ideas

The Nightingale Centre – Unitarian Conference Centre

To sample some other ‘religious’ and ‘non-religious’ movements, too – try these:

Christian Sites:
The World Community for Christian Meditation
The Progressive Christianity Network for Britain & Ireland
Sea of Faith Network
The ecumenical community of Taizé
Radical Faith

Retreat Communities:
The Iona Community
Findhorn Foundation
Haughland House Retreat Centre
Othona Community at Burton Bradstock

Buddhist Sites:
Community of Interbeing
Unitarian Universalist Buddhist Fellowship

Pantheist Sites:
World Pantheism Movement

Taoist Sites:
Taoism Initiation Page

Sufi Sites:
The Sufi Way

Religious Freedom:
International Association for Religious Freedom

Green Spirituality:
GreenSpirit

Other Sites of Interest:
Dances of Universal Peace
INNER BOOKSHOP
The Faith Column – New Statesman website
Inspirational DVD by Neale Donald Walsch