Welcome to Downing Place URC
One community. Two buildings. An exciting vision for the city centre
Committed to building up people in faith and in following Christ, we are an open and inclusive church in the centre of Cambridge. We strive to be a community that reflects God’s radical love, welcoming to all.
Downing Place URC was formed in June 2018 from the union of Emmanuel and St Columba’s United Reformed Churches. At present we serve Cambridge city centre from both buildings, but our vision is that with the sale of the Emmanuel building, the redeveloped St Columba’s site on Downing Place will become the springboard for our renewed mission in the heart of Cambridge.
Our worship is marked by a sense of reverence and of joy, drawing on the riches of the Reformed tradition of liturgy and preaching, with a special appreciation of music. We foster an intelligent and non-judgmental environment for exploring faith, seeking to live out this faith in a commitment to social justice.
A message from the Ministers:
Following advice from the wider United Reformed Church family, we have resolved that for the time being there will be no acts of public worship, and that other activities of the church will cease. This is obviously the cause of much sadness, but we must act wise and responsibly and restrict our social contact to prevent the wider circulation of the Covid-19 virus.
The United Reformed Church has shared a prayer which we offer to you now
Lord Jesus,In the midst of a storm,
You said, ‘Peace be still.’
Bid our anxious fears subside,
Sustain your church in faith, hope and love,
Bring our nation through this tumult,
Grant wisdom to those with heavy responsibilities,
And healing and hope to those who are infected.
Amen
Church Videos
Downing Place URC is now publishing videos of our services on the Church YouTube channel.
Redevelopment Plans
A renewed church in the heart of Cambridge
Major redevelopment work began at our St Columba’s building on Downing Place in September 2019. This follows the merger of the congregations of St Columba’s URC and Emmanuel URC, and the subsequent sale of the Emmanuel building on Trumpington Street to Pembroke College, which has released some capital to spend on redevelopment.
Church Magazines
- Place Matters – May 2020
- Place Matters – April 2020
- Place Matters – March 2020
- Place Matters – February 2020
- Place Matters – December 2019 – January 2020
- Place Matters – November 2019
- Place Matters – October 2019
- Place Matters – September 2019
- Place Matters – July/August 2019
- Place Matters – June 2019
- Place Matters – May 2019
- Place Matters – April 2019
- Place Matters – March 2019
- Place Matters – February 2019
- Monthly Magazine – December 2018 and January 2019
- Monthly Magazine – November 2018
- Monthly Magazine – October 2018
- Monthly Magazine – September 2018
- News and Events – July and August 2018
- News and Events – June 2018
- News and Events – May 2018
- News and Events – April 2018
- News and Events – March 2018
- News and Events – February 2018
- News and Events – December 2017 and January 2018
First time in church?
First of all, you are very welcome here! Being welcome means you can come as you are. You don’t have to dress in a particular way, or have a particular lifestyle, or ever have been inside a church before. And you don’t need to have a Christian faith to join in any of our activities, including worship. This Church is a space where you can find your place and explore what it might mean to have a relationship with God, at your own pace and in your own way.
But what if I don’t believe in God?
If people weren’t allowed to come to church unless they already believed in God then it would be very difficult for anyone to become a new Christian. Why not try coming to a service here and see what you think?