The United Reformed Church is 50 not out!

50 years ago today, 21 June 1972, the Bill was debated in Parliament which enabled the Presbyterian Church of England and the Congregational Church in England and Wales to come together to form the United Reformed Church. Each local URC congregation is overseen by a group of elders, who work alongside the ordained ‘Minister of the Word and Sacraments.’

Today the United Reformed Church has 40,000 members meeting in 1,300 congregations around the country. Since the United Reformed Church is ecumenical in its outlook and commitment, many of its congregations are Local Ecumenical Partnerships (LEPs), shared in common with (for example) the Church of England, the Methodist Church and the Baptist Union.

United Reformed Church congregations are organised into 13 Synods. The West Midlands Synod, which covers Birmingham and Solihull, has 102 congregations. United Reformed Church groups in the West Midlands can be found in URC directory HERE (Home (urcdirectory.org.uk)).

The Moderator of the West Midlands Synod is Revd Steve Faber. Read more about the West Midlands Synod HERE (https://www.urcwestmidlands.org.uk/).

Anniversary celebrations are taking place throughout the year

The 50th Anniversary of the United Reformed Church – YouTube

A special 50^th Anniversary Service will take place at Methodist Central Hall, Westminster, on Saturday 1 October. Free tickets can be booked HERE (50th anniversary tickets – United Reformed Church). The Church has produced a series of resources to mark its special anniversary year. Worship Materials for local Churches are HERE (Resource pack for local churches – United Reformed Church). An All Age Celebration Book is HERE (Celebrate Together – an all-age book for our 50th anniversary – United Reformed Church). Memories are being requested in the form of a postcard. You can find out more about this HERE (Send us a postcard – United Reformed Church).