About

about us

learn about the cirencester unitarian fellowship by exploring our outlook, affirmations and history here.

affirmations

These Affirmations express the principles we share as a Fellowship. We use them at our Membership Services.

We perceive that the universe has an underlying order and unity and we offer an open and inclusive approach to the many ways in which humankind seeks to understand the ultimate nature of that reality - whether through belief in God or otherwise.
We value life in its many forms, and affirm the unique worth and potential of each individual human being.
We cherish the freedom to work out and express spiritual matters for ourselves, searching for truth according to our understanding and experience, continually examining its implications and ready to accept wherever it may lead.
As the spiritual life thrives best when shared with others, we meet regularly in fellowship:
to develop our spiritual awareness of ourselves, of each other, and of the wholeness of reality within which we exist
to learn from the spiritual and intellectual treasury of humanity as recorded in the major religions of the world and in philosophy and the sciences, and to share with each other our own unique spiritual visions
to share in worship our common values such as truth, beauty, wonder, reverence, joy, justice, freedom, tolerance and reason
to support and encourage each other in our journeys through life and to share our common responsibility of loving care and concern for the wider human family of which we are members
Our Affirmations are not fixed. They are statements agreed by members and occasionally reviewed by them.

history

There was a non-conformist church in Cirencester from 1672, first Presbyterian and then Unitarian. Following the sale of the church many years ago the congregation met in the Cirencester Friends Meeting House. There were also Unitarians meeting in the Friends’ Meeting House in Swindon and from July 2005 to December 2021 the two congregations became Cirencester Unitarian Fellowship. From 2022 meetings have been held in Stroud rather than Cirencester. Swindon meetings continue, and the Fellowship is now known as Stroud and Swindon Unitarians.

The Object of the British General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches

Preamble

We, the constituent congregations, affiliated societies and individual members, uniting in a spirit of mutual sympathy, co-operation, tolerance and respect; and recognising the worth and dignity of all people and their freedom to believe as their consciences dictate; and believing that truth is best served where the mind and conscience are free, acknowledge that the Object of the Assembly is:

Object

To promote a free and inquiring religion through the worship of God and the celebration of life; the service of humanity and respect for all creation; and the upholding of the liberal Christian tradition.

To this end, the Assembly may:

encourage and unite in fellowship bodies which uphold the religious liberty of their members unconstrained by the imposition of creeds;

affirm the liberal religious heritage and learn from the spiritual, cultural and intellectual insights of all humanity;

act, where necessary [as a residual trustee to various Unitarian bodies] being faithful to the spirit of their work and principles … provided always that this shall in no way limit the complete doctrinal freedom of the constituent churches and members of the Assembly.

Do all other such lawful things as are incidental to the attainment of the above Object.

chalice

During the second world war the flaming chalice became the symbol of the American Service Comittee, formed to help people in danger from the Nazis. Unitarians worldwide adopted the symbol and two versions are shown on our website. Most Unitarian services and some formal meetings involve lighting a chalice at the beginning and extinguishing at the end.