Leicester Unitarians Great Meeting - Leicester Unitarians Great Meeting

Coronavirus – Temporary Chapel Closure
In line with the government’s recommendations we have taken the decision to cease all activities at the Chapel. Until we are given the official all clear, there will be no Sunday services and our Chapel and meeting rooms will not be available for hire. We shall be inspecting and cleaning the building as usual and sincerely hope that our normal activities can be resumed soon. In the meantime, our minister will post a weekly homily with prayers on our website (click here for the latest) and we are now holding online live services every Sunday, expertly led by a member of the congregation. Please see Services page for details on how to join these online services.

—————————————————————

We are holding our first service out of lockdown on 16th August at 11.0am. Those attending for worship will have to wear masks and we will have the measures in place to make the occasion ‘Covid secure’. We will not be able to sing the hymns but the organ will be played. Coffee will be served afterwards with recommended social distancing.

Further services will be held on September 13th and October 11th with zoom services on the dates between.

Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel Leicester

We are a long-established congregation of, at present, thirty to forty individuals who share an enquiring outlook into non-dogmatic liberal religion.

The Chapel and its history

The Chapel was erected in 1708 as a “Meeting House of Protestant Dissenters” (read more) where with freedom from dogma we seek to affirm an open-ended faith in life, in humanity and in God.

(Click photo right to enlarge)

Leicester Unitarians Great Meeting interior view

The Minister, Rev. Dr. A. Stewart

Arthur Stewart was educated at St David’s College, Lampeter, where he completed his Ph.D. He trained for the ministry at Manchester College, Oxford, and has served congregations in Sheffield and the Cotswold Group before coming to Leicester in 1989.

Arthur was a tutor to the Ministry Students at Harris Manchester College, Oxford until 2018.

Great Meeting Chapel Roof Repair Fund
Our Grade II listed Great Meeting Chapel is under threat from a leaking roof and rusting gutters. Failure to act soon
could render the Chapel and its meeting rooms unusable. We are asking for help and support to protect this unique
city centre ‘gem’ and its fascinating history for future generations. Click here to learn more…

We thank the many people who have already started donating to the Roof Repair Fund. We are also very grateful for generous donations from The Gregson Trust of £3,000 and from East Midland Unitarians of £5,750.

Chapel Garden Events

Leicester Unitarians are hosting two groups in the Chapel garden during the Covid restrictions. ‘City of Sanctuary’ are holding a session for the distribution of essential items such as toiletries once per week for asylum seekers and refugees, and ‘After 18’ are holding small group, open air, social and activity meet-ups for their young clients three times per week.

We are pleased to have been of help to these organisations who have had difficulty finding a suitable space for their activities during the lockdown.

Photo shows ‘City of Sanctuary’ with the distribution table set up in front of the Garden Room. (click photo to enlarge)

The gardens near the Garden Room and school, photos taken in the springtime with bluebells, the summer sunshine and autumn with falling leaves Click any photo to enlarge.