First Time Visitors and Accessibility

Firstly – welcome!

If you’re thinking of visiting us, here’s some information! You can contact us anytime by email at: info@newcastleunitarians.org.uk, or call: 07506 255 731, or via our Facebook page: Newcastle Unitarians Facebook page.

What can I expect?

When we are meeting in person, our services last for around an hour, between 11am-12 noon. After that, we enjoy coffee, tea and biscuits together. We have herbal tea, gluten-free and vegan bisuits, and vegan milk available.

Services usually include 3-4 hymns, several readings, a period of prayer and meditation, music, and an address from the speaker. The week’s speaker and topic will be on our home page. You may sing or not as you please! We have musical accompaniment for our hymns, and we usually stand for them as we are able. We usually sit, rather than kneel, for prayers. We have a collection during the service, usually after the speaker’s address. (You don’t have to donate if you don’t want to.) We do not usually have Communion services.

Note that we film or record many of our services, so that they can be shared online with people who can’t make the services. We always ensure that the only person in the frame is the person leading the service – if we do film in a way that would capture others on film, we’ll make everyone present aware of this first, and ensure there is somewhere to sit where you can still enjoy the service without being on film, if you’d prefer not to be. If you are joining via Zoom, you are welcome to turn off your camera so that you can be part of worship without being recorded.

Can I come if I am a member of another church or religion – or if I don’t believe in God?

Absolutely. The Unitarian approach is that “there is nothing that we are forced to believe, and nothing that we are forbidden to believe” (Rev. Tom McCready). We are a place for people wanting to explore their personal beliefs, and there is no set creed or dogma that Unitarians have to follow. If you already have a strong set of beliefs, and you want to visit us to explore some different ideas, you’re very welcome.

Do you have a dress code?

Everyday clothes are fine!

How do I get there?

When we are meeting in person, we start at 11am (with the exception of Remembrance Sunday, when the service starts at 10.45am), we suggest you aim to arrive no later than 10.45am. We are in the Large Spiritual Commons Room at Northumbria University every Sunday.

Please come to the side door with our blue banner, and we will have someone there to let you in! If you have problems finding us on the day or getting into the building, please call: 07506 255 731.

You can park in the car parks nearby (Blue Badge parking is available), bikes can be locked up just outside the building, and it is near the Haymarket Metro station, also the bus stops outside the Civic Centre.

Are you in an accessible building?

We are on the floor of the Northumbria University City Campus Library, also known as Student Central. There is an access ramp at the entrance from the Library Quad, and flat access from both St Mary’s Place and Sandyford Road. All floors of the City Campus Library are accessible by lift and all floors have automatic doors on entry and exit.

Accessible toilets are available on the ground and first floors of the Library, and toilet cubicles with wider space and additional support are available on all floors.

We have a portable hearing loop we use during services, please note that it has a range of about 1m so if you use hearing aids you will need to sit close to it. We reserve some seats near to the loop for this purpose.

Assistance dogs are welcome.

Blue Badge parking is available nearby at the Sandyford Road / Civic Centre car park, and at the College Road car park (near Costa Coffee).

Are children welcome, and do you have a Sunday School or creche?

We do not currently have a Sunday School or creche, and whilst we welcome everyone, unfortunately our current worship space is relatively small with little room for younger folks to play. Our services are probably best suited to older children and young people, who are welcome to join us. Find out more here: Children and Young People

Are you dog friendly?

Only assistance dogs can be brought into Northumbria Student Central.

I’d like to know a bit more about you…

Here’s our leaflet about us: Newcastle Unitarians

Here’s some information about the national Unitarian movement: First Time Visitors Leaflet

We’d like to get to know you… so come visit us and we’ll be happy to answer your questions!

I can’t come on Sundays, what’s happening online?

As well as our own livestreamed services, there are a lot of national online Unitarian events. Find out more here: UK Unitarians Online