St. Margaret's United Reformed Church - South Shields

Here’s your latest edition of News Update |    View in browser

News Update                         August 2026

Keeping you informed with the latest news from around the URC

What the Moderator did next

No sooner had the United Reformed Church’s General Assembly ended in July, and the new Assembly Moderator, the Revd Neil Thorogood, was back at The Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick. This time for the Synod of the British Province of the Moravian Church. It was a thought-provoking event, at which Neil was made very welcome. 
Neil reflects on some of the challenges and opportunities the two denominations have in common in the first of his Moderator’s Blogs. Check in with the blog regularly to receive pictures – in words and watercolour – of both Neil’s visits and the life of the URC he experiences. Also new to the Moderator’s Blog page are two short videos, in which Neil introduces himself and his role, and is also in conversation with this year’s Youth Moderator, Kacie Hodgson, and Youth Moderator Elect, Alex Clements.
Image: Neil Thorogood

Andy’s inbox revealed

The new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has been getting a lot of mail during his first weeks in office. The Revd Neil Thorogood, Moderator of the URC’s General Assembly, was one of 40 senior faith leaders from across the UK’s Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities to sign an open letter urging the new Prime Minister to rethink the UK government’s asylum policy agenda. The letter, coordinated by refugee charity HIAS+JCORE, called for the full reinstatement of family reunion rights, and reminded Mr Burnham that “those fleeing persecution are no different to us”.
URC, Methodist and Baptists leaders had previously written to congratulate Andy Burnham on his appointment, to assure him of their prayers, and to outline their vision of a society that “enables the flourishing of all life”. Read our report in Latest News
Image © House of Commons – used under an Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) licence

Jo’s first impressions

Jo Griffiths, the URC’s new Head of Children, Youth and Intergenerational, has hit the ground running, attending the pre-General Assembly “What do you think?” event. She described it as “an inspiring introduction to the life of the URC, as I watched passionate and thoughtful young people from across our Synods engage deeply with the issues and proposals being brought to General Assembly”.

“Inspiring” Season of Creation

The addition of “Feast of Creation in Christ” readings to the Revised Common Lectionary, was welcomed enthusiastically at the URC’s General Assembly (Day 4). Resources for the Season of Creation have been published by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, which is also promoting the rich fund of videos and accompanying resources produced by Eco Congregation Scotland.

Moving Stories

Moving Stories, the regular newsletters from Commitment for Life (CfL), are always available on the CfL web pages, as Word or PDF documents. Here you can find our about each of CfL’s current partner countries: Bangladesh, Israel and Palestine, and Zimbabwe.

Children, Youth & Intergenerational

Check out “Talking About”, welcome “Faithful Footsteps”, a new series to support grandparents exploring faith with their grandchildren, and get ready to order this year’s Advent resources! All in the latest Children’s, Youth and Intergenerational newsletter.

Synod news

Wessex

For two weeks in July, Abbey URC hosted Linus quilts as part of this year’s Romsey Festival.Project Linus UK is a volunteer-based project that provides homemade, washable quilts to children’s care homes, premature baby units, and to any child or teenager in need of a hug. Read our report in Latest News

Northern

St James’s URC, Newcastle, hosted what is believed to be its first Multicultural Worship
Service, bringing together people from a variety of cultural backgrounds to celebrate our unity in Christ. Taking the themes of the Tower of Babel and Pentecost, the service was the inspiration of Alvin Mark, a Youth Apostle at St James’s.

Yorkshire

“Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same but you leave them all over everything you do.” Elvis Presley’s words underpinned the first 24-hour residential planned for children and youth workers and volunteers. Led by Lisa Campbell from the organisation Wonderful Me, the retreat took place at Ampleforth Abbey.Read the full story.

South Western

A new dementia café, to be launched at New Brunswick URC, will benefit from recent upgrades funded through synod grant funding. Vital building improvements have been enabled, creating a warmer, safer and more welcoming space for both the church and wider community, Read the full story.

West Midlands

Lodge Road URC and Newbigin Community Trust have won the 2026 EDI Champion of the Year award at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust Star Awards. In collaboration with the emergency department at Midland Metropolitan Hospital, volunteers support people waiting to be seen, and assist staff and patients in crisis throughout the department, each Friday night.

Eastern

Essex residents were invited to celebrate the opening of Basildon URC’s new community garden on 4 July. The unused space behind the church (known as The Hive) has been transformed into a garden by volunteers. It’s all part of the church’s commitment to supporting community wellbeing and creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect, build friendships, and feel part of the local community.

Name your favourite hymn

What’s your favourite hymn? The URC’s Worship, Faith and Order Committee is helping the Communion of Protestant Churches in Europe build a library of well-loved hymns used in member churches for baptisms, weddings and funerals. Complete our survey and tell us yours, and why! See bit.ly/WFOChymnsurvey. Please complete by 15 August.

Share your good news

If you have a good news story that can inspire, raise hope or show God’s work in action then please let URC Communications know. We would love to help share your news across the denomination and in local news outlets. Email the URC Press Office or call is on 07976 753 950.

This month in Reformed magazine

We look to the past and to the future in the latest edition of Reformed. John Bradbury considers the ten years since the URC became the first mainstream Christian denomination in the UK to allow churches to offer same-sex marriages. Even further back, a 1611 Geneva Bible reveals added recipes and surprising alphabets, while a present-day Bible study programme is bringing Christians together in Bexhill.
As four contributors consider the benefits of praying, Simon Edwards, a senior lecturer in Youth Studies, asks what wisdom Christians can bring in the age of AI friends. In an interview about evangelism and leadership in today’s Church, Leslie Newton says “God hasn’t given up on us yet.” Plus, life could be getting easier for local churches thanks to the first of the Church Life Fund’s shared services – a Resources Hub and Helpdesk, launched in June. Sheila Maxey compares our meagre bucket lists with a choral masterpiece, powerhouse performances from Alan Cumming and David Morrissey are analysed – and if neither of those appeal, there’s always Miriam Margolyes as a nun in New Zealand.
This and much more in Issue 5/2026 of Reformed magazine, available now. Subscribe
here.

Please order online using the URC Bookshop’s easy-to-use website www.urcshop.co.uk or by calling 020 7916 8629.

Gospel Voices is Neil Thorogood’s collection of 40 monologues by New Testament women and men who tell their stories, all arranged around the Church’s year. £13.00 + p&p.

Book nooks are wooden, miniature, decorative dioramas designed to fit between books on a shelf, supplied as compete kits with miniature tools and battery-operated lights. 
£15.54 –£25.82 + p&p.

What’s On

Places to Meet

A Church with People at the Margins, webinar 3.
Can the church be the hub of the community? How can our spaces become a vibrant, life-giving and life-changing environment for the whole neighbourhood? 
Date: Monday 10 August, 7-8pm on Zoom
More information and booking

Greenbelt

The festival of faith, arts and issues takes place over the August bank holiday weekend, and for the final time is hosted at Boughton House, just outside Kettering. A place like no other to dance and debate, pray and party.
Date: Thurs-Sun, 27-30 August
Book your place

Single-Friendly Church conference

Belonging: “Every Single Person Loved, Welcomed and Valued” conference from  the Single Friendly Church Network. How to change the culture around singleness in our churches.
Date: Saturday 26 September, 10am–4pm
Where: St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation & Peace, London
More information and booking

Worship is Word and Sacrament

Southern Synod’s new Clerk, the Revd Dr Elaine Colechin, leads a Theology of Worship Group session. She asks, “What difference does the sacrament make?”
Date: Thursday 13 August, 7.30pm on Zoom
Register with John Burgess by 7 August: j[email protected]

Every Day Matters conference

From The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, a two-day gathering “for everyone involved in shaping the life of your church”. Speakers to include Beth Tindall-Riley, Andrew Ollerton and Graham Tomlin.
Date: Tues-Wed 29-30 September
More information and booking

Preaching in troubled times

Luther King Theological College’s 2027 conference. How to be in worship that allows for bewilderment. Exploring the stories we tell when we’re overwhelmed, feel helpless, and want to defy divisiveness.
Date: Fri-Sat 23-24 April 2027
Book now

Recruitment

URC vacancies and beyond

Synod Clerk – Northern Synod
Based: Home-based
Contract: 21hrs/week
Salary: £25,905.60 + 10% employers’ pension contribution
Closing date: 12 noon, Monday 10 August

Community Development Worker
Based: Holtspur URC, Beaconsfield HP9 1UQ
Contract: 22.5hrs/week over 3 days
Salary: £30,000 pro rata (£18,000 per annum)
Closing date: 12 noon Thursday 20 August

Safeguarding Committee Convenor(volunteer role)
Overseeing implementation of the URC’s safeguarding policies and the strategic management of safeguarding across the denomination. Must be a member of the URC.
Terms and conditions and role information
More information from [email protected]

Worship, Faith & Order committee member
(volunteer role)
Address issues of worship, faith and order on behalf of the URC; also participate in ecumenical and interfaith discussions. Elders and lay people especially welcome to apply.
More information from Robert Pope at [email protected]

Many more vacancies, including volunteer opportunities, at urc.org.uk/jobs

If you no longer wish to receive News Update, please use the link below to unsubscribe.

UNSUBSCRIBE

The United Reformed Church
Church House, 86 Tavistock Place
London, WC1H 9RT
Tel: 020 7916 2020
Email: [email protected]

The United Reformed Church was created by church unions in 1972, 1981 and 2000, facilitated by Acts of Parliament passed in each of those years. It has a number of associated bodies: The United Reformed Church Trust (URC Trust) is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (Registered Number: 135934); it is also a registered charity (Registration Number: 1133373). The United Reformed Church Ministers’ Pensions Trust Ltd is a limited company registered in England & Wales (Registered Number: 2821011). The United Reformed Church Retired Ministers’ Housing Society Ltd. is a registered Community Benefit Society under the Co-operative & Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Number 15986R). The Registered Office for all the aforementioned bodies is Church House, 86 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9RT. 

St. Margaret's United Reformed Church - South Shields

URC News update

Leave a Reply Cancel reply