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Thought For the Month

'The important thing is not to stop questioning.'

 Albert Einstein


 

Welcome to our Chapel

Underbank is a Unitarian Chapel set is glorious surroundings overlooking the Loxley Valley near Sheffield. It was founded in 1652 and the current building was constructed in 1743. The present minister is Rev June Pettitt.



THE Underbank Congregation has its origins in the 17th Century, with land and property left by one Richard Spoone for the maintenance of a "preaching minister" in 1652, during the period of the Commonwealth. A barn was converted for the purpose of religious worship, and functioned as a "Chapel-of-ease" (i.e. of accessibility ) to Bradfield Parish Church. The form of appointment of the minister appears to have been more in the Presbyterian tradition than the Episcopalian, however, and by 1700 the congregation seems to have been Dissenting. The final and definite break with the established church came with the building of the new Chapel, the present building, on a site adjoining the original converted barn, in 1742-3.



During the 18th Century, not without controversy, the congregation came to adopt a Unitarian stance, affirming the unity of God and the humanity of Jesus in contrast to orthodox Trinitarian belief, which was held to be unscriptural. They did not impose an alternative Unitarian orthodoxy, however, but continued in the radical dissenting tradition of individual liberty in matters of faith. Architecturally the Chapel is widely regarded as being a distinctive and interesting example of its type as a "Dissenters' Meeting House of the 18th Century.



It features on the front cover of The Unitarian Heritage (1986), the first major architectural survey of places of worship in the Unitarian tradition in the British Isles.

 

Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 14:35

 

News April 2012

Note:  during April our Sunday services may sometimes be held in The Schoolroom. This may be decided at short notice. It is because of the building project in the Chapel.
 
On Saturday April 21st at 10.00am until 12.30 there will be a Table Top Sale in The Schoolroom. Look for a bargain and satisfy your hunger with excellent bacon butties.
 
Sunday Service on April 22nd.  The baptism due to take place in this service has been postponed.  We wish Baby Thomas well, he has come down with chickenpox.

Last Updated on Monday, 16 April 2012 04:32

 

February 12th 2012 - 'Evolution Weekend'

Our service on February 12th marks ‘Evolution Weekend’, which is about affirming a positive relationship between religion and science.   There is some background about The Clergy Letter Project and the setting up of Evolution Weekend on www.evolutionweekend.org

Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 14:35

 

Judy Hague - Sunday Service - January 15th 2012

On January 15th Judy Hague will be taking the service.  Judy will be well known to many of you.  For those who don’t know her – Judy lives in Sheffield. She is a retired art curator and adult education lecturer and co-author of The Unitarian Heritage (book). She is on the architectural advisory panel of the Hibbert Trust and a member of the Victorian Society.


Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 14:35

 

Merry Christmas From Underbank

Last Updated on Friday, 09 March 2012 14:35

 
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What is Unitarianism?

EdiscGreenUnitarianism is a religious movement which has evolved in the Christian tradition and originated in the Reformation of the 16th Century. It now recognises and upholds the right of each individual to seek and to find truth and meaning according to the evidence of his or her own experience.

Whilst affirming our Christian heritage, we recognise that wisdom may be found in the other spiritual traditions of humankind. We believe that religion must have contemporary relevance, and that it must be honest. To this end Unitarianism offers freedom of conscience and does not require its members to subscribe to set creeds, dogmas or articles of belief.