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.
Church Diary
- Fair Shares Knit Cafe
1:30 pm, 21st February, 2019 - Choir practice at St Columba’s
10:00 am, 24th February, 2019 - Morning Service at Cherry Hinton Road
10:30 am, 24th February, 2019 - Morning Service at St Columba’s
11:00 am, 24th February, 2019 - Opportunity to look at types of seating
12:15 pm, 24th February, 2019 - Evening Worship at Fulbourn
6:00 pm, 24th February, 2019 - Open Table service at Emmanuel for LGBT+ folk and their allies
7:00 pm, 24th February, 2019
Redevelopment Plans
A renewed church in the heart of Cambridge
We have recently applied for planning permission for major redevelopment work on our St Columba’s building on Downing Place. 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.
Service Times
Sunday Morning Worship
11:00 am, with provision for children of all ages
At St Columba’s URC on Downing Place until building work commences after Easter
Holy Communion
First Sunday of every month
Open Table LGBT+ services
Refreshments from 7pm, worship at 7:30pm, fourth Sunday of every month at Emmanuel URC, Trumpington Street
Mid-week Worship
11:00 am on second and fourth Thursdays of every month
At St Columba’s URC on Downing Place
Church Magazines
- 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?
Contact
Downing Place URC
Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 3EL
Ministers:
The Revd Dr John Bradbury
john.bradbury@downingplaceurc.org | phone: 01223 562 323
The Revd Nigel Uden
nigel.uden@downingplaceurc.org | phone: 01223 314 586
Downing Place Church Administrator - Elaine Barker
elaine@downingplaceurc.org | phone: 01223 711494
Emmanuel Centre Manager – Ann Auger
ann@downingplaceurc.org | phone: 01223 351 174