Welcome to United Reformed Church, Isle of Wight

where faith, friendship and service come together. Discover a warm welcome, meaningful worship and opportunities to grow in your faith.

Visit our churches in Ryde & shaklin 

 We are glad you are here 😊

Introduction

Whether you are exploring faith for the first time, looking for a church family or simply curious about what Christianity is all about, you are welcome here.

Our church exists to share God's love with the people and to create a place where everyone can feel valued, supported and encouraged. We are an ordinary group of people from different backgrounds who have found hope, purpose and friendship through faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that everyone is on their own unique journey and wherever you are on yours, we would be delighted to walk alongside you. Through worship, fellowship, prayer, and service, we seek to grow closer to God and to one another. 

Why not come and visit us? We would love to meet you. 

Rev. Brian Harley

Our History

At the beginning of 2014, three United Reformed Church congregations from Freshwater, Ryde, and Shanklin on the Isle of Wight formed a Group Pastorate. Sadly, Freshwater closed on 31st December 2021. We continue to hold occasional joint events and services to strengthen relationships and provide spiritual encouragement. Both churches were once part of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and joined the URC upon its formation in 1972. 

We work in partnership with other local congregations across the Island and participate in Island-wide projects such as the Foodbank, Street Pastors, and Youth for Christ. Our closest sister church is Newport Congregational Church, which shares a similar history and Christian tradition.

What is the URC?

The URC is a family of Christians who meet in local churches across England, Scotland and Wales, part of the worldwide family of Reformed Churches, a group of more than 70 million Christians.

The URC has around 42,000 members in about 1,200 congregations with more than 600 ministers. More than 48,400 people worship in our churches each week, and many more take part in the weekday activities of the churches.

What we believe?

God loves you. And as Christians, we do too.

Regardless of who you are, your background, your family, your past, your present or future, we are in this church because we believe that God is alive and listening to us through prayer, guiding and speaking to us through the Bible, forgiving us for what we have done wrong, and waiting for us in Heaven after we pass away.

We believe that each and every one of us can find contentment through loving and serving Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

A lack of hierarchy, and a respect for individual principles, means that the URC is not rigid in the expression of its beliefs, and embraces a wide variety of opinions.

At the same time, in the words of the URC’s Statement of Nature, Faith and Order, together we are committed to ‘God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the living God, the only God, ever to be praised.’

Becoming a member

People often ask whether they need to ‘join’ their church and become a member. This is not essential but, for those who decide to take this step, it can deepen their sense of belonging and it entitles a person to share in decisions about the life and future of the local church.The URC encourages regular attendees to consider church membership when they start to think of a particular place of worship as ‘their church’. Church members commit to supporting the church through giving, action, and by taking part in the Church Meeting, as well as through regular attendance at worship.

If you would like to know more about becoming a member, please speak to the minister or an Elder – they will be delighted to answer any questions.

Hear the word, feel the spirit

Our sermons are primarily designed to provide ongoing spiritual nourishment for current members, encouraging growth in faith and offering direction for Christian living. They serve to build up our church community, educating us in the Bible and equipping us to apply Christian doctrine to daily life, including work and family.

However, we also craft our messages with new visitors and those seeking spiritual guidance in mind. We strive to offer content that is both accessible to newcomers and deeply engaging for regulars. Our aim is for everyone to experience a 'spiritual feast' and see how our community applies its beliefs, finding answers to questions they might have about faith. you'll find inspiring messages grounded in inclusive, progressive, and thoughtful theology, designed to connect faith with contemporary life. Discover how we interpret the teachings of Jesus for today's world and find hope amidst despair.

 

Explore our church life

We offer a variety of opportunities to connect with faith, friendship, and community. Whether through worship, fellowship, or outreach, there is something for everyone. Please click below to learn more.