What is Unitarianism?
Our tradition is basically Unitarian but with roots and connections with a number of other dissenting traditions. Unitarianism is a form of Christian faith that tries to be as rational and as open to new knowledge as it is faithful to Jesus.
To understand Unitarianism properly we must first see how it emerged from the Reformation of the sixteenth century, initially in the form known as Socinianism. During the eighteenth century Socinian beliefs were adopted by dissenting Presbyterians and some disenchanted Anglicans and this, along with the influence of Enlightenment thought and scientific discovery, gave rise to a distinct movement of Christians who came to be known as Unitarians. Prior to this they were known as Rational Dissenters.
The term Unitarian refers to the belief that Jesus was a man, not God, but Unitarianism was always about far more than denying the Trinity. As long ago as the seventeenth century, Socinians (later known as Unitarians) shocked mainstream Christianity by rejecting the church’s teaching about Hell (eternal conscious torment for non believers) along with the concept of Original Sin, and the doctrine of Predestination. Equally controversially, they rejected the idea that Jesus’s death was some sort of blood sacrifice demanded by his Father. Such doctrines were, they argued, at odds with the God of love and justice who was Jesus’s father. But Unitarians/Socinians didn’t reject these doctrines out of a lack of respect for the Bible. On the contrary, they rejected these teachings because they considered them to be unbiblical and contrary to the faith of Jesus and the early church. They were as concerned with being scriptural as they were with being rational and open to new learning.
In the nineteenth century, Unitarianism, continued to evolve, absorbing the influence of the Free Christian movement, which arose from within its own ranks and further emphasised the role of conscience, ecumenical freedom and ethical faith. Free Christianity was more philosophical than scriptural, and the emergence of a ‘Unitarian & Free Christian’ tradition recognised a balance between these two related traditions. In the twentieth Century Unitarians & Free Christian congregations were among the first to have female ministers and to bless and marry same sex couples. Today, we continue to explore new ideas and discoveries while honouring the Unitarian & Free Christian tradition.
We are always conscious that, as dissenting Presbyterians and later as Unitarians, our spiritual ancestors endured serious discrimination and persecution. Out of this experience grew the values that continue to define our tradition today: faith with tolerance, free inquiry, freedom of conscience, and freedom of expression.
Francis Elliot-Wright, Minister of Brook Street Chapel 2024-present.
Our Chairman’s view on Unitarianism
Denise and Graham Birks discovered Unitarianism on a day out in Shrewsbury about 6 years ago. They are now members of Brook St Chapel, and feel that they have found their spiritual home. What follows is an extract from a talk which they gave to the congregation when the then Minister was on holiday. The talk was entitled “our journey of faith”.
Our first religious experience together was at a Pentecostal church, having been invited by friends .It was a very lively, charismatic atmosphere, and we were drawn in to this emotional experience. We continued to attend for some months, but then realised we were going because it was a good night out, and in fact we were rather dismayed to hear the continuous condemnation of other faiths. We drifted away, and did not resume any religious element to our lives for many years.
When we reached our early forties, we started to ask ourselves the “big questions of life” and once again began to look for a spiritual answer. We tried a number of churches, of various denominations, and eventually settled on a C of E evangelical church, which seemed to give us clear answers to our questions, and this time we made a thought out commitment to a faith.
However, although we attended for several years, we were never entirely comfortable there. A literal interpretation of the Bible, together with a message of exclusivity, did not sit well with us. We always knew that we would move on, but we had no idea where to.
Then one day we passed a Unitarian Chapel on a day out in Shrewsbury. It had a notice board outside which summarised Unitarianism. This is what we read:
“The Unitarian path is a liberal religious movement, rooted in the Judaeo Christian traditions, but open to insights from other world faiths, reason and science: and with a spectrum extending from liberal Christianity through to religious humanism”. When we read this for the first time, I think it was our “Eureka” moment! From there it was only a short step to Brook Street chapel. Someone once said that you don’t become a Unitarian, you just find out you have always been one!
So, how would we describe ourselves now? Well, we would call ourselves Unitarian Christians, and are now members of the Unitarian Christian Association.
Occasionally we have the privilege of leading services at Brook Street, and this is the message we generally seek to convey:
We would struggle with many of the doctrine and creeds of mainstream Christianity. However, we do believe that in Jesus, we see what we are called to be. We clearly believe that Christianity can still be a positive influence within Unitarianism, because there should be no expectation of anyone having to let go of their culture or heritage. Being a Unitarian Christian enables us to reflect upon these things in a more flexible and progressive way. We should look to the future, and find new ways to express our theology in a way which is more relevant to our time. Our religion needs to evolve, just as our understanding of our world and ourselves has evolved. The type of Christianity we express can appeal to those who yearn for a non-divisive religion, and should not be incompatible with others faiths. As Unitarians, it is paramount that we always display constructive tolerance and openness towards the sincerely-held beliefs of others.
How I became a Unitarian – A Personal Journey
“To begin at the beginning” wrote Dylan Thomas; but where is the beginning? Many Unitarians and Free Christians come to their faith through a long process of thought, prayer and discernment, rather than a one-off sudden decision. In my case, it was a process that stretched over many years.
Both my parents were devout, yet broad-minded, with a certain healthy scepticism. They set me on a liberal path. From early on, it seemed absurd to say that only adherents of (fill in the desired religion!) would be “saved”.
An excellent and inspiring Religious Education teacher who became a personal friend, taught me about the 2nd Century Justin Martyr, whose teaching on the divine Logos, the ‘Word’ led him to declare that virtuous pagans before Christ were also saved: “All truth wherever it is found, belongs to us as Christians” as one translation has it.
After a long search and exploration of various alternatives, I found the Unitarian and Free Christian churches. They had an open-ended search for truth, rooted in Christian faith and practice. They sought to study and learn from other religious traditions and faiths. Their tradition of social action and practice also greatly appealed to me.
Here was a place I could call home. It was a temple of the spirit where one could seek new insights and think new thoughts. “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3.17) It has been my privilege to be a Unitarian and Free Christian minister for nearly two decades now. I am free to look for new insights and ideas, whilst being secure in the conviction that Truth is one and God is one. I am profoundly thankful for that freedom.
Rev Alex Bradley – Chapel Minister (1998-2009 and 2018-2022)