New Sunday Assembly Offers ‘Best Bits Of Church, But No Religion’

Published on: 30 Sep, 2015
Updated on: 30 Sep, 2015

A new style of congregation is coming to Guildford this Sunday offering “the best bits of church, awesome pop songs, but no religion!”

The Sunday Assembly will take place at the Boileroom in Stoke Fields (GU1 4LS) at 11am.

The organisers say it is “a secular congregation that celebrates life. With a motto of live better, help often, wonder more, the assembly is a 100% celebration of life. We have no set doctrine, no deity and don’t do supernatural. The Sunday Assembly is radically inclusive, everyone is welcome and it’s free”.

Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, who set up the first Sunday Assembly in 2013.

Its website states that the Sunday Assembly started on a car journey to Bath when two comedians, Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, realised they wanted to do something that had all the best bits of church, but without the religion, and awesome pop songs.

The first version took place in January 2013, and although the couple weren’t expecting many people, “the entire place was full”. “At the next assembly there were 300”. They say they then had to “go to two services a day, and then it went viral”.

In a call to people to attend and to find out what it’s all about, the three people organising the Guildford Sunday Assembly, Carol, Mark and Sebastien, said: “If this sounds like something for you and you would be interested in joining a Guildford Sunday Assembly or better still if you would like to join us in helping to start up in Guildford then please come along to our first meeting and find out more.

“We especially need people who might be interested in joining the committee or helping out in any other way, but please feel free to come along even if you aren’t sure you want to commit to anything and just want to find out what it’s all about.”

The Guildford Dragon NEWS put some extra questions to them:

Q: Can you explain why if everyone is welcome why you have chosen a traditional day and time of Christian worship?

A: “Sunday was chosen as it is the day when most people have free time. Holding the assembly in the morning allows for community activities or social events afterwards. Attending on a Sunday morning is a good reason to get up and out rather than lazing at home. Hopefully an assenmbly should give everyone positivity to take into their week.”

Q: It would seem therefore you maybe excluding Christians who may also like to attend your assembly – can you explain?

A: “The assembly is held once a month rather than every week. Other assemblies have people of many faiths and none attending, in fact one of the organisers is a practising Christian. Any time that we chose would exclude some groups.”

Q: “Why do you feel the need to mention church and religion if Sunday Assembly is simply a group of like-minded people coming together?

A: “We mention church and religion because it is a useful way of quickly explaining the concept. The assemblies themselves do not mention religion at all, we focus on celebrating life. We say in the charter that we don’t do supernatural but we won’t tell you you’re wrong if you do. We focus on the many things that we can agree on rather than the small number of things that we disagree on.”

Q: “Why have you not chosen a day and time that anyone may be able to attend irrespective of their faith?

A: “We have chosen a weekend to allow as many people as possible to attend. Different groups worship on different days and many people have regular commitments at all times so there are always going to be some people who can’t attend. Many churches also have multiple services on a Sunday.”

Q: “Is there there a charge or donation for those attending?

A: “There is no charge for attending but we do ask for a donation to cover costs. Sunday Assembly is entirely non-profit and has recently got UK charity status.

Click here for more details.

Twitter: @SAGuildford or email sundayassemblyguildford@gmail.com

Responses to New Sunday Assembly Offers ‘Best Bits Of Church, But No Religion’

Father Andrew Norman Reply

October 3, 2015 at 9:33 am

As one of Guildford’s town centre clergy I warmly welcome the arrival of the Sunday Assembly. Another opportunity to encourage people (many of whom are, it must be faced, alienated by the trappings of conventional religion) just to wonder at the depths of this life is great. We are surely all essentially engaged in the same activity.
Carol Dunnett Reply

October 7, 2015 at 1:22 pm

I wish to thank Father Andrew for his kind comments above.

Our first meeting was very successful with those who came all enjoying themselves, and enjoying the cake afterwards.

Sunday Assembly Guildford will now become a regular monthly fixture. First Sunday of each month 11am at The Boiler Room, Stoke Fields, Guildford. Everybody welcome.