Newcastle Unitarians

22/08/2026

Summer School is the annual UK Unitarian get-together at the Nightingale Centre in Derbyshire, combining engagement groups and spiritual exploration of our theme - this year, it's 'Doing Our Best' - with walks and workshops. Here's Louise Reeve's photos of Day 1 - welcome, introduction bingo, and a getting-to-know-you walk.

19/08/2026

On 19 July 2026, Anne Mills led our gathering on 'There Is A Place'. This is an edited version; we had an issue with the sound quality at the start, so a few of the first words are missing - sorry!
To view this video with captions , click on the rectangular captions button in the bottom right-hand corner of the video (next to the 'cog' button for the settings). Find out more about us here: www.newcastleunitarians.org.uk or Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/newcastleunitarians/
If you would like to donate to our congregation to support our community, you can do so online here: https://donorbox.org/newcastle-upon-tyne-unitarians-collection
At Newcastle upon Tyne Unitarians, we welcome all who seek the meaning of life, and who believe that human spirituality is wider than any one tradition, and deeper than any one set of opinions. With a respect for our Christian origins, we now seek to explore all possible truths from all possible sources. Our fellowship gives us strength and encouragement in daily living.
We acknowledge the copyright and authorship of all authors and artists quoted in this service:
Chalice lighting, 'Earth Was Given as a Garden', Roberta Bard.
'The Mountain Chalice', Rev. Frank Clabburn.
'The Wind That Breathes', Frances Sheridan Goulart.
'Country Living', Sandy Ellis.
'Give Me a Quiet Life', Tyler Knott Gregson.
Closing words, 'We Meet on Holy Ground', Janice Marie Johnson.

19/08/2026

Our next Sunday gathering will be at 11am on Sunday 23rd August, it will be led by Kainara Motta on 'Yoga and Non-Possessiveness'. We will be in the Training Room 2 (note the different room) at Northumbria University for worshipping in person only, we're back online next week. Please use the main entrance if attending in person, as the side door is closed at present. Kainara writes:
"I invite you to join me for a guided meditation exploring non-possessiveness (Aparigraha), one of the ethical principles of yoga philosophy. Together, we’ll gently dig through what it means to release our tendency to hold on to possessions, expectations, experiences, or even identities and create more space for freedom, trust, and presence. This will be a quiet opportunity to turn inward, soften our grip, and reconnect with the wisdom of allowing life to flow without needing to possess or control it. Come as you are, with an open heart and a willingness to let go."
Travel: In addition to roadworks in the city centre, the roundabout beneath the Gateshead Flyover is closed until the end of August and it is effectively impossible to travel to Newcastle from Gateshead over the Tyne Bridge at present - use the Redheugh Bridge or Tyne Tunnel. This is causing some delays in travelling around the area and extra demand for public transport, please bear this in mind!
All are welcome on Sunday morning, join us in the Training Room 2, opposite the helpdesk at Northumbria Student Central (please use the main entrance). Student Central is the large brick building which houses the University's Library, opposite Newcastle Civic Centre. You can park in the car parks nearby (Blue Badge parking is available), bikes can be locked up just outside the building, and it is near the Haymarket Metro station, also the bus stops outside the Civic Centre. Please come to the side door with the banner, and we will have someone there to let you in! Alternatively, if you find yourself at another door, press the intercom button and the library staff will let you in. If you have problems finding us on the day, please call: 07506 255 731. You can also use what3words as follows: ///wires.frame.deep. See less

17/08/2026

Our latest blog post, ''Pride and Presence' in July 2026': https://newcastleunitarians.org.uk/2026/08/17/pride-and-presence-in-july-2026/

16/08/2026

Table all set for our midweek event.

16/08/2026

Some photos from our recent midweek gather on 28 July 2026, 'Pride and Presence'. Our next is Wednesday 26th August, 5.45pm for 6-7pm at ReCoCo. See you there?

13/08/2026

Our next Sunday gathering will be at 11am on Sunday 16th August, it will be led by Louise Reeve on 'Walking the Labyrinth'. We will be in the Library Skills Room 2 (note the different room) at Northumbria University for worshipping in person and online. Please use the main entrance if attending in person, as the side door is closed at present. Here's the joining information:
Meeting ID: 899 8132 4654
Direct link - join Zoom meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89981324654
Travel: In addition to roadworks in the city centre, the roundabout beneath the Gateshead Flyover is closed until the end of August and it is effectively impossible to travel to Newcastle from Gateshead over the Tyne Bridge at present - use the Redheugh Bridge or Tyne Tunnel. This is causing some delays in travelling around the area and extra demand for public transport, please bear this in mind!
All are welcome on Sunday morning, join us in the Library Skills Room 2, opposite the helpdesk at Northumbria Student Central (please use the main entrance). Student Central is the large brick building which houses the University's Library, opposite Newcastle Civic Centre. You can park in the car parks nearby (Blue Badge parking is available), bikes can be locked up just outside the building, and it is near the Haymarket Metro station, also the bus stops outside the Civic Centre. Please come to the side door with the banner, and we will have someone there to let you in! Alternatively, if you find yourself at another door, press the intercom button and the library staff will let you in. If you have problems finding us on the day, please call: 07506 255 731. You can also use what3words as follows: ///wires.frame.deep.

11/08/2026

Our latest blog post, from a guest writer, George Callender from Newcastle Quakers: https://newcastleunitarians.org.uk/2026/08/10/a-quaker-visit-to-newcastle-unitarians/

11/08/2026

Here's what our fellow Unitarians at Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel are creating - 'Heartspaces', a new weekly spiritual community in London. Sound familiar? We're doing much the same in Newcastle, join us for our regular midweek 'Something to Think About' reflective gatherings!

09/08/2026

The Unitarian Christian Association are meeting online tonight at 6pm - details here, all are welcome!
Modern Unitarians draw inspiration from a wide range of spiritual paths and traditions. Our roots lie in Christianity; the name 'Unitarian' originally meant someone who rejected the idea of the Holy Trinity - God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, meaning that Jesus was divine, and not human. Unitarians traditionally believed (and many still do!) that Jesus was a human being.
In the modern world, 'Unitarian' tends to refer more to our search for unity between different religions & spiritual paths, and between human beings. However, many of us still seek to learn from the Christian tradition and Christian theology, and the Unitarian Christian Association exists to keep that tradition alive.

This Sunday - 9th August at 6pm - our online worship will be led by Rev Ant Howe, exploring the question: “Whose directions should we trust?”

“There are times in life that we seek guidance about the way we should go, but who is best to advise us? People can be quick to offer advice. Some religions claim to have found the true and only way. Politicians, leaders, and self-appointed experts are constantly telling us what they believe to be the best way forward. Social media is always feeding us messages about what should happen. But whose directions should we trust? And what are the dangers in accepting the words of any person or institution claiming to have found the only way or the complete truth? Ant will be thinking about these things and considering how the Unitarian approach to life and spirituality might help us discern whose directions we should trust. He will also reflect on how we might know we are heading in the right direction.”

We’ll have an opportunity to sing together, pray for each other and the world, listen to music, hear a talk from Ant - with an optional time of conversation after the service, for those able to stay on

All welcome - 5.45 for 6pm (BST/ London)
Zoom link: https://unitarianchristian.org.uk/live-worship/
Meeting ID: 853 0987 4584
Passcode: 204828