A Zoom link for the Good Friday Communion Service, to be held in the church on Friday 3rd April at 18:30
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83780358041?pwd=4JrlcvpvodLbzoOlyWNG1HHl8aKW8t.1
Meeting ID: 837 8035 8041
Passcode: 873893
The full order of service for this can be read and downloaded at the following link:
A Zoom link for the Morning Service of Mindful Meditation, Music & Conversation
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86882949446?pwd=kliXbdABEfbU8FjDMtNRNJ4Lr2lb5z.1
Meeting ID: 868 8294 9446
Passcode: 612407
Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Unitarian Church Cambridge CIO will be held in the Unitarian Church, Emmanuel Road, Cambridge CB1 1JW, and on Zoom, on Sunday 26th April 2026 at 11:45 following the morning service
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that the Annual General Meeting of the Unitarian Church Cambridge CIO will be held in the Unitarian Church, Emmanuel Road, Cambridge CB1 1JW, and on Zoom, on Sunday 26th April 2026 at 11:45 following the morning service
The Zoom Link for service and AGM will be the usual Sunday morning link
Supporting documents will be distributed shortly.
The link for this coming Thursday’s Zoom “Kiitsu Kyōkai” Seiza Meditation & Conversation Meeting, this week, 2nd April at 19:30-21:00
For more information, please visit:
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/kiitsu-kyokai.html
https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/evening-service/
Join Thursday Zooms at the same link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85775868333?pwd=LEuyKnfbRJORbqsuzkhsonHui4ttwA.1
Meeting ID: 857 7586 8333
Passcode: 970614
Links to the minister’s address/podcast:
In written form at:
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com
Or as podcast episodes at:
Various notices from Cambridge Faiths of Sanctuary, of which we are a member
Join Us This May: Be Part of A Million Acts of Hope.
Despite the news we hear every day, millions of people across the UK show up for each other, their neighbours and their communities every single day.
These stories are too often left untold. So, in May 2026, community and faith groups, plus charities big and small, will come together to celebrate and inspire A Million Acts of Hope across Britain. There is far more that connects us than divides us.
A Million Acts of Hope will be a national week of action celebrating kindness, connection and the everyday ways we support one another.
Find out more at the Together With Refugees webinar on 1 April 1pm
Or check out the website: https://millionactsofhope.org
Information sharing on far-right activity
A new project by Hope Not Hate:
The Tensions Monitoring Unit disseminates information about far-right activity to community groups and others across the UK, and provides bespoke support to organisations that are targeted. It also provides a secure space for organisations facing threat to meet, share ideas and get some moral support from people working in similar ways.
It will be launching on Tuesday 21 April, 17:30 -18:30, with an online event. Attendees will hear about the unit, the kind of information we’ll be able to share, the support that will be on hand, and have a chance to ask questions. The link to register is below.
The network is open to anyone working on the ground with communities, especially those at risk of targeting by the far right. https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Ul_U7G5jQga9vIoeYtHMZw#/registration
Faith leaders support Family Reunion
Amidst major asylum policy overhaul, 720 bishops, rabbis, church ministers and an imam from UK communities have written to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, to raise concerns for refugee families.
Read more about the policies and how they are causing harm. If you are a faith leader, you can add your signature here:
With best wishes to you all for Eid and Easter
Elisabeth & Aidan
Cambridge Faiths of Sanctuary.
City of Sanctuary UK is a registered charity, no. 1184613
Here are the notes taken at the two important Life of the Church Meetings following the services on Sunday 18th and 25th January 2026 along with a link to the slide presentation
CAMBRIDGE UNITARIAN CHURCH CIO TRUSTEE PRESENTATIONS TO THE CONGREGATION 18 AND 25 JANUARY 2026
On both occasions the presentation was held during the Morning Service time, instead of a Thought for the Day. The presentations and discussions were held within the atmosphere of the Service for Mindful Meditation. A printed copy of the full array of slides are attached to the printed minutes, filed at the church.
Introduction by Minister: Andrew Brown
Self compassion meditation by Aysha Madra
Trustees’ presentation: Elden Horner, Sue Tombs, Celia James, Jacqui Carnall
Slides 1 & 2 Background (CJ) https://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Life-of-the-Church-18-01-26-v2.pdf
Main presentation (JC)
Open Discussion points
Maintenance requirements: volunteers and money: how have we kept these going till now: can we make things easier to maintain?
The demographic change in the area and our ageing buildings
The Northampton Unitarians sold their church and moved to a Scout Hut, which feels a less spiritual environment: there is a loss of the sense of the history of the community, as well as of a spiritual building.
The needs of the community here has changed completely over time: two large halls are no longer needed: small spaces are needed.
The beauty of and the spiritual sense in the church is completely lacking in the Hall.
There are many other community spaces available locally, but no one else is doing what we do: there are high risks associated with doing nothing, rather than pursuing one of the options for change.
The quality of the atmosphere of the church might help attract groups with a compatible ethos to use the space: keeping the church feels vital.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the funds we do, so let’s use them: there is great value in paying experts rather than purely relying on volunteers.
Music groups renting the church value it and will benefit from it being better heated.
It would be disappointing if we left the site completely, because of the beauty of the church and its situation in the centre of town with the benefit such easy access to buses.
Several congregations are known who have lost their churches/chapels: whilst they are surviving, they are not thriving.
With refurbishment of the church, there is potential for new church hirers.
There is potential to sell the Hall to a community organisation, not just as commercial offices or housing: offices are not they way they used to be: the refurbished Hall could be a community enterprise or a flexible workspace.
Specific contribution about finance from David Burns, Chartered Accountant by original training, working in the domain of corporate governance and financial structures, acting as director and part owner of projects covering land assembly and planning uplifts. He has been more than happy to volunteer his support and guidance to the Trustees and his conclusions have been that the financial planning and change of use process (he calls this the regulatory procedures) have been conducted by the Trustees in a very cautions and professional manner. David believes that this is very much the mechanism via which Cambridge Unitarians can secure a sustainable future, which is the stated objective. This mechanism offers a continued concrete presence in the community almost irrespective of the decisions which the Trustees make hereafter, guided by the wishes of the Congregation. He also understands that there may be an understandable emotional attachment to the way things used to be. We need to strike balances between that sentiment and the stated objective for the sustainable future. It is his observation that the change of use procedure should be completed as the next 3-6 months proceed. The planning and filing costs involved so far (less than £20,000 in the last year), represent money very well spent . This has increased the valuation or latent valuation of the already significant assets which Cambridge Unitarians CIO are fortunate enough to hold in their balance sheet. Regardless of whether a planning consultant is used for this final step of the way, he recommends completing the planning submission (or re-submission). He notes there is progress in this regard as every week goes by. Once the Changes of Use are achieved, it is clear from the financial and letting projections that there will not only be more community space in, for instance, the scenario of relinquishing the Hall, but that all net cashflow and profit projections will improve as a result.
David is happy for any within the Congregation to ask him questions. The Trustees have his contact details and they can route an email or request a call from David when his time permits.
Celia James
A link to “Our Principles of Living” and “Ten Advices”
For additional national Unitarian news, please click on the following link:
Uni-news
https://us20.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=1590ea5f53cdc6fb8a17c311c&id=7bce4a21b7
Andrew James Brown
(Days off are generally Monday and Tuesday)
Minister
Cambridge Unitarian Church
Emmanuel Road
Cambridge
CB1 1JW
07477 462 110 (Mobile)
http://www.cambridgeunitarian.org/
Blog: Caute
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/
Podcast: Kiitsu—Returning-to-One
https://kiitsu.buzzsprout.com
Jiyū Shūkyō / Free-Religion
https://andrewjbrown.blogspot.com/p/free-religion.html