The United Reformed Church - North Western Synod
About Us
The United Reformed Church was formed in 1972 by the union of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England.
It continued to express its deep commitment to the visible unity of the whole Church in subsequent unions in 1981 with the Re-formed Churches of Christ and in 2000 with the Congregational Union of Scotland, through continuing talks with other traditions and in more than 400 local churches united with other denominations.
Though one of the smaller 'mainstream' denominations in Britain, the URC has contributed to the life and leadership of ecumenical institutions to a degree belying its size. The Church comprises some 150,000 adults and 100,000 children and young people in more than 1750 congregations spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales, served by some 1100 ministers, paid and unpaid, both male and female.
The URC stands in the historic Reformed tradition, the largest single strand of Protestantism, with more than 70 million members world-wide. Along with other Reformed churches the URC holds to the Trinitarian faith expressed in the historic Christian creeds and finds it supreme authority for faith and conduct in the Word of God in the Bible, discerned under guidance of the Holy Spirit. The URC's structure also expresses its faith in the ministry of all God's people through the structure of democratic Councils by which the Church is governed.
Theologically, the URC is a broad church. Its membership embraces evangelical, charismatic and liberal understandings of the Christian faith.
For more information about the URC and its origins, have a look at this download.
The North Western Synod has 157 churches situated in all kinds of community: Conurbation, Industrial Town, County Town, Village, Seaside resort, Inner City, Suburb. In many places imaginative use is being made of leadership and buildings.
A new pattern of four Areas, including the new Area of Cumbria, was inaugurated in spring 2005, introducing new mission programmes and training opportunities.
This web site gives you an insight into the life and work of the Synod as well as offering links to many of the local churches with their own web sites.
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To find out more about the Synod, you can contact us.