The roots of Unitarian Christianity in this area go back to the religious upheavals of the mid seventeenth century and the Act of Uniformity of 1662. The Unitarian Christian cause in Stalybridge began in 1862 with the formation of a Sunday School. This was followed in 1870 by the opening of the church building which is still in use today. All who share our liberal and enquiring approach to religion are welcome to join us for worship or for our social activities. Your own religious background does not matter. We impose no tests of faith at this church and require no subscription to particular creeds. We ask only that you join us in a spirit of prayerful reflection and enquiry, and with tolerance and openness to the sincerely held beliefs of others. In order to continue the living witness of Unitarian Christianity in this place we are always pleased to welcome visitors and newcomers. Some newcomers express a wish to become members of the congregation. We are glad to welcome new members as we wish to develop and grow as a congregation. If, after reading this, you think that you would like to find out more please join us for worship one Sunday morning. Worship services are held every Sunday morning at 11am and at other times as shown in the Calendar. Opportunities for social fellowship and discussion occur after the service and on other occasions. The services of our minister are available for weddings, baptisms, funerals or other occasions, as well as for pastoral care and support. The church provides an opportunity for you to develop your faith in a liberal Christian environment. Ours is a friendly, welcoming and supportive congregation. It also provides opportunities for links with other liberal Christians in Britain and overseas through the Unitarian Christian Association.The following is adapted from the UCA Declaration of Trust and provides a good summary of the ethos of Stalybridge Unitarian Church. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Rule of Christian Faith and Duty under the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. That it is the inalienable right of all Christians to search these records of Divine Truth for their own instruction and guidance, to form their own opinions with regard to what they teach and to worship God in sincerity according to the dictates of their own conscience without privation or the inconvenience inflicted by others. That the imposition of Human Tests and Confessions of Faith, and the vain efforts of people to produce an unattainable uniformity of belief have tended to restrict the sacred right of private judgment and to prevent that free inquiry and discussion which are essential to the extension of religious knowledge. That forasmuch as the Master, Christ, has described the true disciple in these words, saying, By this everyone shall know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another, and further, has emphasised the two great commandments, saying Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these, and forasmuch as Christ himself has said, Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but they that do the will of my Father who is in heaven. We, therefore, refuse to impose conditions upon the Church which He, Himself, has not sanctioned, and we solemnly declare our allegiance to the principle as the real bond of union between Christians that the teaching of Christ Himself must take precedence of the doctrine of a later time, and that unity is to be sought, not in uniformity of creed, but in a common standard of righteousness and obedience to the commandments which Christ Himself has laid down.

Telephone: 0161 643 1824
Website: http://www.stalybridgeunitarians.org.uk/