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- Life Events - Special Services ....
- Our Life Event Services, being in
the Unitarian tradition, are special and unique. Because we are not constrained
by any fixed system of theological belief, Unitarian services for Child
Welcoming, including Child Naming and Godparent (Spiritual Life Mentor)
Commitment Ceremonies, Marriages and Funerals can be tailored sympathetically
to meet the spiritual needs of the participants.
- We respect the best in all human
and religious traditions and will consider willingly the organisation of either
an appropriate Unitarian Life Event Service or an alternative Event Ceremony
for persons from the less flexible Christian traditions, from other Religious
Faiths, and from agnostic or humanistic backgrounds.
- Our Minister Emeritus, the
Reverend Ann Latham should be contacted regarding Child Welcoming, including
Child Naming and Godparent (Spiritual Life Mentor) Commitment Ceremonies,
Marriages and Funerals or for general consultation.
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- Social Activities ....
- Friday Mornings: The New Meeting House and
Premises are open from 10am - 1.00pm on Friday mornings for Spiritual
Reflection, Social Activities, Discussion Events, Chat Café (coffee,tea,
cake, biscuits and conversation) and for the general Friendship of our
Community.
- Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society
(K.O.D.S.): The Society meets regularly in the New Meeting House
Hall to rehearse for the numerous productions they perform each year. These are
usually held at The Rose Theatre in Kidderminster. For more information visit
the K.O.D.S. WebSite at http://www.kods.org.uk. or contact the secretary Jackie
Rutland by Email at webmaster@kods.org.uk
- Rambling/Walking Group: We have a small but keen
group of ramblers/walkers who take it in turns to organise monthly rambles in
the lovely Worcestershire countryside. These take place usually on the first
Tuesday or Thursday of each month. Information is posted from time to time on
this web site under 'Other Diary Events - Kidderminster'. For more details,
contact Roger Mathews by phone on 01562 850538 or by Email at
roger@mathews8763.fsnet.co.uk
- Kidderminster Cyclist's Touring Club (C.T.C.):
The cyclists group meet every Tuesday evening during Autumn & Winter
months. Contact Secretary John Preston by phone on 01299 401005.
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- New Meeting House Buildings
....
 New Meeting House is set
well back from the road and approached between lawns flanked by trees, shrubs,
and flower borders. It dates from 1782, but was greatly enlarged a century
later in 1882 when the striking neo-gothic frontage was added. The interior
also benefitted from the 1882 improvement, with the addition of a vestibule
entrance, wooden galleries and a chancel. Beautiful Stained glass windows,
several by Hardmans of Birmingham, depict the life and teaching of Jesus, and
rare acaustic tiles from Jackfields of Broseley, Salop adorn the chancel walls.
However, the greatest treasures within the church have to be the 17th c. carved
Jacobean pulpit of Richard Baxter (which was once situated in Kidderminster's
Parish Church) together with his Complete Works (18th c) bound in four large
volumes. |
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- New Meeting House History ....
-
 New Meeting's origins reach
back to the days of the civil war in England and Richard Baxter, who served as
a chaplain in Cromwell's New Model Army. Richard Baxter was one of over 2000
ministers to be ejected from the Church of England in 1662, because of their
refusal to conform to the introduction of a new standardised liturgy and prayer
book. A further edict by parliament, forbade them from preaching within five
miles of their former living. Baxter was forced to leave the town he loved, but
his spirit of freedom in matters of religious belief and practice lived on in
the town.
- Later on, in 1689, The Non-Conformists, or
Dissenters as they became known, were allowed by Parliament to erect their own
places of worship and Kidderminster saw the founding of the Old Meeting House
beside the banks of the river Stour close to the town bridge. It was a
condition of the 'Act of Toleration' that such churches were to be placed
discreetly in a location set back from the road - often behind shops and
houses, and Kidderminster's first 'Meeting House' was no exception.
- In 1781, the much loved and long standing
Minister of the Meeting House -the Rev'd Benjamin Fawcett died and the
controversial appointment of a successor led to a split in the congregation. A
significant minority decided that they felt unable to worship under the new
Minister and on Boxing Day of that year, they took the momentous decision to
leave and form their own church. Less than a year later in October 1782, the
New Meeting House was formally opened in Church Street with great decency and
solemnity.
- Today the Unitarian congregation still cherishes
Richard Baxter's spirit of freedom, and refuses to lay down fixed articles of
belief in the form of creeds and dogma.
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Contact Persons
....
 Church Address:
New Meeting
House
Church Street
Bullring
Kidderminster, Worcs.
England,
DY10 2AR, UK
- For further information about
Kidderminster Unitarians contact:
- Secretary/Treasurer:
Roger Mathews
29 Woodlands Road
Cookley, Worcs.
England, DY10 3TL, UK
Phone:
01562 850538
Email: roger@mathews8763.fsnet.co.uk
roger@mathews8763.fsnet.co.uk
Our Minister Emeritus:
Our Minister
Emeritus is the Rev. Ann Latham. Ann may be contacted regarding Child
Welcoming, including Child Naming and Godparent (Spiritual Life Mentor)
Commitment Ceremonies, Marriages, and Funerals or for general
consultation:-
Phone: 0121 602 2091
Email: ann.latham@tiscali.co.uk
ann.latham@tiscali.co.uk
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