On 16 October 2023, UK Unitarians virtually gathered to hear more about the future of Harris Manchester College at a ‘Congregations in the Community’ event. In the organisers’ own words:

“Harris Manchester is the present-day Oxford University college that was founded by Unitarians in Manchester in 1786 and transferred to Oxford in 1889. It hosts students who are all aged over 21, and has served the Unitarian movement through training ministers and caring for a remarkable collection of historic and contemporary documents, books and images relating to the history of Unitarianism and Dissent.

Rev. Dr Claire MacDonald writes: “I trained there and I am now its Chaplain and Ministry Tutor. It’s an exciting time. HMC’s Governing Body has the development of a centre where we can house ministry education and research in its strategic plan. How that happens, how we create projects, enable access to Unitarians, develop new programmes and how we as a movement care for the future of education and research across our movement and in our two colleges, is what the Zoom meeting is about. If you are interested in what HMC is, what its future might be, what we are planning – and most of all, if you would like to be involved in some way – please come along.“

It was a fascinating discussion, in which we explored the history of Harris Manchester College, and what might happen next, with chance for small group discussions among attendees about what matters to us for the future. It was noticeable that knowledge of Harris Manchester College and what it offers varied among those attending. Perhaps an ‘Introduction to British Unitarianism’ course is needed – congregations vary greatly in terms of their engagement with the wider UK movement, and the resources they’ve got to share knowledge about it with their members. Thanks to all involved in organising.