United Reformed Church

Who we are

A brief introduction to the United Reformed Church that tells you about our beliefs, history, structure and how you can get involved.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in finding out a bit more about the United Reformed Church – the URC. This church has helped our commitment to Jesus Christ to grow, and we believe it can do the same for you. Here you’ll find out a bit more about the URC.

Who we are

The URC is a family of Christians who meet in local churches across England, Scotland and Wales, part of the worldwide family of Reformed Churches, a group of more than 70 million Christians.

The URC has around 42,000 members in about 1,200 congregations with more than 600 ministers. More than 48,400 people worship in our churches each week, and many more take part in the weekday activities of the churches.

Our culture and values

God loves you. And as Christians, we do too.

Regardless of who you are, your background, your family, your past, your present or future, we are in this church because we believe that God is alive and listening to us through prayer, guiding and speaking to us through the Bible, forgiving us for what we have done wrong, and waiting for us in Heaven after we pass away.

We believe that each and every one of us can find contentment through loving and serving Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

A lack of hierarchy, and a respect for individual principles, means that the URC is not rigid in the expression of its beliefs, and embraces a wide variety of opinions.

At the same time, in the words of the URC’s Statement of Nature, Faith and Order, together we are committed to ‘God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the living God, the only God, ever to be praised.’

You are welcome here

We are proud to be an intercultural Church, where people with varied ethnic and cultural roots meet, worship, discuss and learn from one another.

We were pioneers in ordaining women – our first female minster was ordained more than 100 years ago in 1917.

Most jobs and roles in the URC, whether voluntary or paid, are open to all.