The United Reformed Church

‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.’ – Margaret Mead. This is something that the elders of Gatley URC know only too well as they lead the way in looking outwards from the church building into the life and needs of the surrounding community.

Following a bequeath of £500,000, it was clear that something had to be done to encourage more people to become involved with the church, and so a community space was built, making full use of the building’s long, bright corridors and hall spaces to create a warm, welcoming environment for everyone to enjoy.

The Ark pre-school at Abbots Road URC in Leicestershire has, at its core, a team of dedicated lay people who keep the love of God at the heart of all they do. As disciples of Jesus, they seek to offer a happy and safe space for all children to learn and grow at an important, formative stage of their lives. The empowerment of lay people has been vital to both The Ark and the church’s success.

Over the past decade or so, there have been some big changes. The church has been without a minister, dedicated and much-loved members of the congregation have passed away or moved to pastures new, the church has engaged with the Mission-Shaped Introduction course and fresh forms of worship have been trialled at different points throughout the week. All of this has led to a much greater desire to understand the needs of church members and to be more responsive to them.

Bulwell URC in Nottingham serves as one of the East Midlands Synod’s resource churches, seeking to be a source of encouragement and support for other URCs in the area. It does this, not through great wealth or expertise, but through the work of ordinary disciples who seek to live the life of Jesus today.

With lots of change in the air, it can be hard for some congregations to know how to respond, especially with ageing congregations and limited resources. One thing that never changes, though, is the importance of sharing food. In understanding this, members of Wigston Magna URC in South Leicestershire live out their discipleship through hospitality.

Alongside its Sunday worship services and longstanding, active Girls’ and Boys’ brigade companies, which help children and young people to grow as everyday disciples of Jesus, the church hosts regular coffee mornings and afternoon tea events which bring members of the church together with people from across the community to share in fellowship.