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Great Britian

Great Britian
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
Status: Full Member
Members: 6,000, plus ~800 children and teenagers
Ministers: There are 137 ministers and 7 lay pastors on the Roll of the General Assembly in the British Isles. Of these, just over 50 are retired. A few ministers serve congregations of the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland - a sister group of the General Assembly; congregations mainly in Northern Ireland.
Founded: Proto Unitarians date as far back as 15th century. The first Unitarian place of worship was Essex Church in London on the site of the present headquarters. The inaugural service took place there in 1774. The British and Foreign Unitarian Association was founded in 1825. The General Assembly, its successor, was established in 1928.
Congregations: Proto Unitarians date as far back as 15th century. The first Unitarian place of worship was Essex Church in London on the site of the present headquarters. The inaugural service took place there in 1774. The British and Foreign Unitarian Association was founded in 1825. The General Assembly, its successor, was established in 1928.
Publications:
  • The Inquirer (fortnightly)
  • The Unitarian
Notes:

Unitarians today recognize that each person has the right and responsibility to think for him or herself on religious matters. They recognize that religious understanding may properly be gleaned from diverse sources - science, the arts, the exercise of human reason and reflection upon personal experience, as well as from scriptures of the world faith traditions.

British Unitarians stress the value of congregational life, both as support in one's personal spiritual journey and as a beacon of liberal religious values and social action in the local community. Many Unitarians in Britain find the focus of their faith in the liberal Christian tradition while others adopt religious humanist, theist or other standpoints.

Unitarians have a tradition of tolerance toward those of differing belief and this has fuelled their historic commitment to interfaith dialogue.

(Adapted from IARF Directory)
Contact: Jeffrey Teagle, General Secretary
Essex Hall, 1-6 Essex Street
London, WC2R 3HY Great Britain
phone: (44) 020 7240 2384
Fax: (+44) 020 7240 3089
Email: sec@unitarian.org.uk
Website: unitarian.org.uk