We asked people what led them to start coming to the Derby Chapel, what they thought were the benefits of coming, and whether they had previously attended other churches.
George:
My very dear friend, Ken, (now deceased) was having some difficulty with the position (theologically!) of the church he was attending. I had read of Unitarianism and so thought Ken might be more comfortable there. So we both visited the church for the first time together and although my background was agnosticism, Marxism and Communism, we both became regular attenders.
I like the encouragement to think things out for yourself as well as the tolerance of other religious views and the non-reluctance to quote from other holy books. The friendship of like-minded persons - I think of us a s being seekers after understanding and truth.
Before attending this chapel, I attended the Baptist Church and Quakers services on rare occasions.
Kate:
The reason why I came to Derby Chapel in the first place was because my dear friend invited me to a service because he knew I wanted to go back to church/chapel and thought that it may be right for me - and I am pleased to say that it is.
Yes, I had been to churches before but not for such a long time and to be honest, I never thought I would do again - but I am so glad and honoured to be part of the Chapel in Derby. It is such a special place to me.
My Little Chapel
My little chapel hidden away
Amongst all the buildings
Were it cannot be seen so easily.
My little Chapel so friendly and nice
So, perfect for me.
How I love my little Chapel somewhere for me to be myself and grow spiritually.
A place for me to share in fellowship
But nothing to over the top
My little chapel is so perfect for me.
Once inside it is small and friendly place
To be yourself and to join in fellowship
A friendly little chapel were friendships and spirit grows.
I would be lost without my little Chapel
I am so glad a friend shared this with me.
My little Chapel is so right for me.
Roy:
My mother made me and her other children attend the Friar Gate Unitarian Chapel Sunday school, where we were taught by Mrs Pratt. When my brother and I were strong enough, we were encouraged to pump the chapel organ at services, until the money was found to fit an electric motor to power it. I do not remember attending the chapel again until my mother's funeral service there, a number of years ago. My mother was a devout member all her life.
The Chapel suits me because of its liberalism. I cannot accept a lot of the Bible and its dogma. I balance religion with science. I lean towards Intelligent Design in religion.
Before I returned to the Unitarian Chapel, I was a choir boy at St. John's church, Bridge St., Derby from age 9 to 11 years old., and since then, for weddings, funerals, etc. - never as a member of the congregation.
Chris:
I spent years trying to find a church that felt right. As a young boy I tried all my local churches but after a few weeks left; I just couldn't, in all conscience, buy the package they were offering. In my mid twenties I even put myself through Anglican Confirmation thinking this would sort me out, but of course it didn't.
I discovered Unitarianism whilst searching my family tree and then probably two years later found Friar Gate Unitarian Chapel. I paid my first visit some 20 yaers ago and I can only describe it as 'coming home.'
Chapel life gives me a sense of fellowship with like minded peope. Somewhere I can be me, broaden my view, have my assumptions challenged, but ultimately, make up my own mind. I am not offered eternal salvation in return for agreement with a set of doctrines but allowed to grow into a belief that is mine.
Having attended a 'Building your own theology' course it was great to hear and learn the thoughts of others and at the completion of the course have numerous Credo (I believe) statements, rather, as in other course that I have attended, been forced into a 'we' believe statement.
I have been to Methodist and Anglican Churches prior to my attendence at a Unitarian Congregation.
Chris:
I first came to this chapel when my wife, who had never been a church attender, reached a point when she wanted to try a church and felt that Unitarians had a more realistic approach than other denominations.
When I first joined the Chapel, I was, at the same time, both a newcomer to the Unitarian approach to religion, and an ‘old hand' at the traditional Christianity. This I found a bit confusing (and still do). I was a lapsed C of E church-goer, having once been an active member of a fairly evangelical church in the South-East for about 10 years, up until about 18 years previously, a year or two before I first met the lovely lady who later became my second wife. My attendance at church had started to dwindle when my first wife had become very disenchanted with it, which made it increasingly uncomfortable for me and the two children to continue to be fully committed members. By the time of our divorce, I was no longer attending any church, and my faith had become a very small, private thing.
At the Unitarian chapel, I like having the space to dwell, one at a time, on aspects of my former 'faith' afresh, without the pressure to accept it first and then try to understand it and possibly even believe it later. There had been many times I had heard the advice that newcomers would only be expected to take the 'bread and milk' doctrines at first, progressing to the more 'difficult' concepts as we 'grew' in our spiritual education. Sometimes I felt I would get quite low marks in the next test !
I have never before studied such a wide variety of sources about religion as I do nowadays. In the Unitarian environment, I find I am often inspired to search the internet for writings about other faiths, debates on the NUF forum, or to read about the goings-on in and around the Unitarian movement throughout the UK and worldwide. I still feel like I know very litle, and have a lot to sort out - but here I feel I will be allowed, and encouraged, to do so at my own pace. If I can find ways to help others who journey alongside me, I hope I will sometimes manage to do that, too.
Janet:
In 2005, I had a burst appendix, and was taken into hospital for an emergency operation. It took me weeks to recover, and in that time, I had lots of time to think things over. Among the things I considered was 'What was all that for, then? Why am I still here? What is really important in life?'
During the next few months, I started researching various religious paths online, and found that the Unitarian one was the one that resonated with me the most, as it is so welcoming to people who do not know all the answers - it encourages people to bring their questions with them, and explore ideas together.
I started attending the Chapel in early 2007.
The Chapel gives me things to think about, as the services each fortnight are interesting 'prompts' for looking at aspects of life that can be overlooked when you get caught up in everyday problems.
The people are very friendly and interesting, with points of view that are helpful. Subjects are always discussed in a respectful way.
I am encouraged to experience God in a way that is meaningful to me personally.
Simply being in the Chapel makes me feel calmer.
Although I was 'Christened' as a baby, that was mainly due to the norms of the time - my birth family was not really religious.
I visited the evangelical Protestant church which my husband had previously attended, a few times, in the run-up to my marriage (we had a Blessing there) - although the people there were friendly, I had difficulty accepting some of the beliefs of their church (such as, God must only be seen as 'male'). Other than that, this is the first church I have ever attended regularly.
John
I came to Derby as I am too far away to attend my own congregation in Rochdale on a regular basis. I had tried Leicester some time ago but the traditional service hadn't appealed. I immediately warmed to Chris's approach and liked the friendliness and informality of Friargate where I felt welcome and 'at home'. Although I am also a member of Charnwood Fellowship, it complements my attendance at Friargate.
Although I am, to a large degree self sufficient and have my own beliefs and values, I do enjoy and gain much inspiration from participating in a church service. No man (or woman) is an island and it is good to contribute as well as to benefit from this shared religious experience.