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EnglishWho is the United Reformed Church website for and how do I get started?
Updated
urc.org.uk is the official website of the United Reformed Church (URC), a Christian community worshipping in about 1,500 local churches across the UK. It is built for anyone exploring faith, existing URC congregations and church leaders, and community partners looking for practical support. The site is primarily an information and resource platform, so you can browse freely to understand the church and find tools for ministry without needing to sign up or transact.
Who the site is for
The homepage frames the URC as "a family of Christians" and a "community that shares God's love and joy in the hope of making the world a better place," with the welcome line: "Wherever you are on your journey, we are here for you." That framing points to several audiences:
- People exploring faith or curious about the URC — the welcome message and "Who we are" section are the natural starting points.
- URC congregations and church leaders — the Resources Hub, Helpdesk, and Bookshop exist to equip local churches with tools, guidance, and inspiration.
- Community partners and volunteers — featured projects and webinars show how churches work with their neighbourhoods, including on funding and volunteer growth.
Where to start
The homepage surfaces several entry points, each suited to a different need:
| Entry point | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Who we are | The church's identity and welcome message |
| URC Resources Hub | Practical tools, guidance, and inspiration for ministry, plus a how-to video and a staffed Helpdesk |
| Latest news | Recent updates, e.g. RechargePLUS 2026, growing younger in the West Midlands, a free Black History Month 2026 service resource |
| Featured stories and projects | Inspiring churches and community projects, including the 2026 Community Awards winners |
| Reformed magazine | The URC's magazine, available free in print or online |
| URC Bookshop | Worship resources, books, certificates, merchandise, badges, cards, free goods and gifts |
| Featured videos | YouTube content on church life and community work |
If you are new to the church, start with Who we are and Featured stories and projects to get a feel for its character. If you are involved in a congregation, go straight to the URC Resources Hub.
Using the Resources Hub and Helpdesk
The Resources Hub is described as a place to "equip your church with practical tools, guidance and inspiration to help your ministry thrive and grow." Two features make it easier to use:
- A how-to video showing how to use the hub.
- A staffed Helpdesk if you need direct assistance.
This is the most task-oriented part of the site, so it is the best place to begin if you have a specific ministry or practical need.
Learning from featured projects and videos
The site's videos and stories give concrete examples rather than abstract descriptions. For instance, Peter Musgrave, an Elder at Vine URC in Ilford, East London, shares how his church joined with local community members to transform their church grounds into a wildlife-friendly garden and inspire greening elsewhere in a built-up urban landscape. Another webinar, "A Church With People at the Margins – Places to Meet," features church-related community workers and a transformation director discussing how church spaces can serve the whole neighbourhood, what support and funding exist, and how to grow volunteer bases.
These are useful if you want to see what URC community work looks like in practice before deciding whether to get involved.
What the site does not do
The site is informational and resource-focused. It does not offer online transactions or membership registration, so you cannot join, pay, or subscribe through the website itself. The only pricing-related signal on the homepage is a "subscribe" reference, and the Reformed magazine is offered as a free copy in print or online — but no payment or account is required to browse the site's content.