Every sabbatical leave tells a story. For some, it is a quiet pause, a time to step back, breathe, and return refreshed. For others, it is a journey of learning and rediscovery. For Rev Dr George Kalu, his 2025 sabbatical a bit of both. Far more than the rest, it became a hands-on mission and […]

Southern Synod Big Day Out – 20th June 2026 at Shires Oast The day finally arrived with about 180 people in attendance; this was the first time such a day had been had in over 30 years, and in my opinion, it really was a day of fun, fellowship and food. The day started and […]

  The United Reformed Church (URC) is delighted to announce that the Revd Paul Robinson has been nominated to serve as the next Moderator of the Southern Synod. The post has been vacant since the Revd Bridget Banks had to retire early in June 2025 on health grounds. The Southern Synod has around 140 URC […]

The Southern Synod Spring School 2026 took place at High Leigh Conference Centre on 11th-14th May. This was a wonderful and enriching gathering of more than 30 ministers and church leaders which provided a meaningful opportunity for learning, reflection, fellowship, and mutual encouragement. This year’s theme focused on “Binding Anxieties.”We were deeply inspired by the teaching […]

Southern Synod are delighted to inform you that our new Synod Clerk is the Revd Dr Elaine Colechin. Elaine comes to us with a wealth of experience having ministered in a number of United Reformed Churches, including her current church, Bromley URC and serving as Area Leader for South London Synod Area. Elaine said: “I […]

The minutes for Synod Together held at Christ Church United Reformed Church, Petts Wood on 14th March 2026 are now available to download. Download:  Synod Together Minutes 14th March 2026 

Southern Synod’s Big Day Out! We are so excited to announce that tickets are LIVE for the Southern Synod Big Day Out. To buy your ticket please click the following link; https://www.tickettailor.com/…/urcsouthernsynod…/2030985 This will be a day full of fun, food and fellowship. Please share details with anyone at your local Church that you think […]

Reigate Park URC celebrates 50 years!! Over the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd November 2025 Reigate Park celebrated 50 years on their current site; the church having previously been located in Reigate High Street. On Saturday a social event with a “70’s” theme took place with a live band and a “70’s” menu which […]

Reigate Park’s Nativity Service! Reigate Park celebrated their Nativity Service on 14th December 2025, a joyful and very special occasion, shaped and led by their young people. Working alongside their leaders, they helped to write the service, bringing creativity, enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the heart of worship. Reigate Park were delighted to include a […]

The Advent service at Gillingham URC on 21st December was a very special occasion. During the service three of the Youth Fellowship – Paa Abrokwa, Tamika Mtika and Malumbo Mtika – were received into Church Membership.  A great joy for them and their families and the whole church family. (Article by Ms Pam Tolhurst, Elder […]

Thamesmead Confirmation On Sunday 7th December, 21 young people and adults were confirmed into St Paul’s Church in Thamesmead. The church is an LEP with the Anglicans, Methodists and URC. The service took place at William Temple Church in Abbey Wood and was led jointly by Rt Revd Alastair Cutting (The Bishop of Woolwich), the […]

Christmas Gathering at Bexleyheath, Geddes Place URC “Christmas Gathering Lunch Brings Community Together Over Shared Meal and Shared Values” In a celebration of unity and understanding, people of all faiths and backgrounds will attend the Christmas Gathering Lunch, taking place on 21st December 12:30 at Geddes Place United Reformed Church, Geddes Place, Bexleyheath DA6 7DJ. […]

SAVE THE DATE! Synod Day Out – 20th June 2026 from 10am to 4pm. This will be a day of fun, food and fellowship at Shires Oast at The Hop Farm, TN12 6PY If you would like to help, please contact Ruth on [email protected].

On Saturday 18th October, ministers and representatives from around the Synod gathered at Reigate Park URC, to pray, worship and make important decisions about the future of Southern Synod. Attendees were warmly welcomed into the Church with an inspiring service led by Revd’s Siobhan Antoniou and Sue Knight. They also heard about updates from the […]

Trinity Church Sutton’s Advent Lecture! Trinity Church Sutton would like to invite you to their Advent Lecture titled ‘Thomas More, William Tyndale and the struggle for the soul of England’, which will be given by the Revd Dr Jonathan Dean, the Chair of the London Methodist District. Jonathan will be exploring the difficult relationship between […]

  The URC Waldensian Fellowship On-Line Thursday 13th November at 7.30 pm Two Visits to Waldensian Churches and Projects this Autumn During the past few weeks, two groups from the United Reformed Church have travelled to Italy to learn something of the Waldensian Church, its history and current life and witness. The first group, made up […]

Celebrating the Ordination and Induction of Revd Maurice Omorojie We were delighted to hold the Ordination and Induction of Maurice at St Andrew’s Cheam on Saturday the 20th September.  Maurice finished his studies at Northern College this summer after a four year course.  In January this year Maurice accepted the call from St Andrews to […]

  Surrey and Sussex Retired Minister’s Lunch! The retired Ministers’ lunch was a great success and enjoyed by the 16 guests (including wives and widows) and members of the Pastoral Committee who attended. Hearty thanks were extended to Revd Helen Higgin-Botham for organising the event and to all at Christ Church Chichester for being great […]

We have great pleasure in announcing the appointment of the Synod’s new Safeguarding Officer, Natalie Van Camp. Safeguarding has been a growing and developing ministry for all churches, organisations and companies.  We are grateful for the memorandum of understanding with Thames North Synod that provided Safeguarding support for Southern Synod by their own Safeguarding Officer, […]

  Our theme at Dorking URC since Easter has been Caring for Creation.  So, what has been going on?  Here is a snapshot: War has to be just about as far away from caring for creation as you can get and our Sow to Grow garden group took the opportunity presented by the VE Day 80th […]

Having completed 2 years of training at Westminster College Cambridge I was Ordained and Inducted as a Non Stipendiary Minister on the 6th September at Reigate Park Church by Revd Russell Furley-Smith. Russell led the service beautifully with a little humour – in the right places! – which made not just me but the whole […]

Staplehurst’s 200th Anniversary Celebrations! On the 16th August, Staplehurst URC celebrated the 200th Anniversary of worshipping at their current site. The occasion was celebrated by 48 visitors from the local community who heard a fascinating talk about the history of Staplehurst URC. Some highlights from the talk included hearing how Revd John Wesley preached there […]

The High Sheriff of Kent, Jonathan Neame, visited The Hope Street Centre in Sheerness recently, together with his wife Lucie. The Centre is a project of the United URC-Methodist Church in Sheerness. Abby Dewberry, the Centre Manager, and Trustees from the church were delighted to share news about the work of the Centre and introduce […]

Congratulations to Dan Powell – Lundie Award Recipient! Dan, a talented 19-year-old organist, has received the Lundie Memorial Award for his outstanding contribution to church music. He was nominated by Pam Tolhurst from Gillingham URC. Dan was presented with the award during a special event and organ recital, where he showcased his amazing talent. Well […]

  My name is Tawonga Mtika I’m 22 years old and I live in Rochester in the Southeast of England and I am honoured to introduce myself as the new Youth Representative for the Southern Synod of the United Reformed Church. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role and to be […]

Minister’s Spring School 2025! The annual Spring School was a wonderful gathering of 35 ministers from around the Synod. A few rose early for aerobics and running led by Lesley Charlton, and many stayed up late into the evening for meaningful conversation and healing laughter. Our chaplain, Sue Chapman, led us in creative morning prayer […]

Moderator’s Quiet Day at Crowhurst On a warm sunny day in March several Ministers and Local Church Leaders gathered at Crowhurst Healing Centre for what was truly a gift of a day. We were blessed with time and space to be with God, to receive teaching, to enjoy beautiful grounds to walk in, to have […]

Eco-Synod Award Southern Synod has now achieved Bronze Eco Synod status in the Eco Church awards programme.  This news was announced at Synod Together where Ian Moore, the new Green Apostle for Southern Synod, presented the certificate to Revd Russell Furley-Smith.   The Eco Synod programme brings together the work of local churches in the […]

On Sunday December 1st 2024, 37 young people and adults were confirmed at St Paul’s Church in Thamesmead. The church is an LEP with the Anglicans, Methodists and URC. Revd Bridget Banks, Moderator for Southern Synod preached to encourage the young people on their walk of faith. Revd Bridget Banks (Southern Synod Moderator), Revd Jonathon […]

KNOW AND GROW – Makaton course for churches As part of their drive to help churches become increasingly accessible and welcoming to all, URC Training is delighted to offer subsidised access to the new KNOW AND GROW training, a Makaton course which focuses specifically on the signs you might use in worship and church-based groups. […]

The Dunamis Project are running their annual conference ‘In the Spirits Power’ from the 6th-10th November at St Andrew’s URC, Canterbury. This is a fascinating four day conference exploring how Christians today can know the presence and power of the Holy Spirit  for themselves, through understanding a variety of spiritual gifts, learning to cooperate with the […]

Tawonga and Malumbo Mtika have received the Lundie Memorial Award for operating the sound system each week at church and the live streaming of our services. They have chosen the charity Holding On Letting Go to benefit from the £100 Award.  They wrote to the charity explaining the background to the Award and not only […]

The Election’s over… What now?   Could your congregation: Send your new or returning MP a card? Commit to praying regularly for your MP? Invite your MP to participate in a Sunday service? Develop ways to engage with your MP better?   Now is a great time to develop a meaningful relationship with your local […]

The United Reformed Church History Society are running their annual conference again this year, with the interesting theme of ‘The Church on the Margins: learning from the past to shape the future.’ It is taking place between 16-18th September, at Durham University. It is £275 for full board in a single room, or £250pp sharing […]

The Gathering, May 2024 30 Synod ministers (MoWS, CRCW, LCL) plus the Synod TDO, Rev Andy Twilley, gathered again at High Leigh Conference Centre to enjoy four days of fellowship, rest, and reflection on the insights and challenges presented by the event speaker, Rev Nick Cuthbert, founder of The Riverside Church in Birmingham, who led […]

Are you interested in an ecumenical, multifaith peace walk in London on Sunday 23rd June? Why not join the Plum Village UK & Quakers in Britain in their exciting Multi-Faith event of a Silent Meditation Walk. They are walking to honor the lives lost in war in the hope that peace and reconciliation will result. […]

          What is the Let’s End Poverty movement? Let’s End Poverty is a diverse, growing movement of people who are united behind a vision of the UK where poverty can’t keep anyone down. Supported by over 50 churches, charities, trade unions and community groups and made up of over 630 movement […]

The Faraday Institute is running an exciting Summer course this year with the theme ‘The Art and Science of Human Health and Spirituality.’ Science touches every aspect of life – from how it begins and how it ends, to how it is lived in between. The same, of course, is true of religion. Looking the […]

The Free to Believe National Conference is taking place once again in September this year! They have some absolutely outstanding people leading the conference… so you should look forward to a few inspiring and informative days. Please find an Information Sheet as well as the Booking Form below.   Free to Believe Conference 2024 Information […]

URC Children’s Workers Together – THE CONFERENCE: exploring how we work with children together In response to popular demand, URC Children’s and Youth Work are holding our first ever Children’s Worker Conference from 1-3 November 2024 at Ripon College, Cuddeston, Oxford OX44 9EX. If you are actively engaged in children’s ministry within the URC, whether […]

The United Reformed Church Buildings Forum Webinar ‘Living stones for a living church: buildings for the ministry of Mission’ Part 1           21st May 2024 –  7:30pm Part 2           4th June 2024 – 7:30pm This is an open invitation to attend the URC Church Buildings Forum webinar on Zoom on 21 […]

Over the years we have had people come and join the staff team in Southern Synod and we have also said ‘goodbye,’ either through retirement or people moving to pastures new. After 7 years plus, Revd Andy Twilley feels it is right to be moving on and seek new pastures and a new challenge with […]