The congregation of Stowmarket United Reformed Church (URC) in Suffolk were joined by more than 30 quirky figures last weekend.

Organised by John Webb, an Elder of the church, Covid-19 keyworker heroes were thanked for all their working during the pandmic at a festival at the church through a series of scarecrows dressed up as NHS and postal staff, farmers, and HGV drivers to name a few.

Special honours were bestowed on Gillian Phillips and the Revd David Marshall-Jones on 18 September when the United Reformed Church Guide and Scout Fellowship (URCGSF) made them life Presidents.

The service, held at Caterham URC, also marked David’s retirement as National Scout Chaplain – a position he has served for the past 20 years – and Chair of URCGSF and volunteer Manager of the URCGSF National Scout Active Support Unit.

David has served the United Reformed Church (URC) in variety of roles: from serving in local churches, Synod, to supporting denomination-wide children’s and youth work. 

Faith leaders have joined together to demand climate action ahead of the COP26 meeting in Glasgow.

The Glasgow Multi-Faith Declaration, signed by representatives of religious communities across the United Kingdom, calls for people to be “advocates for justice” ahead of the COP summit.

The Revd Clare Downing and Mr Peter Pay, Moderators of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church (URC) made the declaration alongside leaders of every major Christian denomination and representatives from Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities.