Temple Cowley United Reformed Church
Oxford Road, Cowley, OXFORD, OX4 2ES
Church office :
+44 (0)1865 751621
Minister :
Office : (as above) or
Home :
+44 (0)1865 421891
Email minister :
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Introduction
Quote of the Week
"It is not the ecologists, engineers, economists or earth scientists who will save spaceship earth but the poets, priests, artists and philosophers"
Lawrence Hamilton, Operation Noah
Temple Cowley URC is one of eight United Reformed Churches in the Oxford area. During the 1930s it became a spiritual and social home for many who came seeking work at the nearby Morris car plant (now home to the new BMW Mini). Many of them were Welsh, and Welsh connections remain, although Cowley is now home for many different nationalities, and has a large student population.
The URC was formed in 1972 from the merger of two national churches with roots in the 17th century Reformation : the Congregational and the Presbyterian Churches. Later, the Churches of Christ joined.
Temple Cowley URC (right) and the new Emmaus Community House (left, including the older residential house). March ‘09.
Statement of Faith of the United Reformed Church
The church operates an Environmental Policy and a Fair Trade Policy.
Blog
The Revd Dick Wolff launched a blog in February 2008, where he posts comments, short
articles, letters &c about current events and often about the relationship between
British society, organised religion (and ‘pseudo-
On it, readers are able to post comments and responses.
The material here does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Reformed Church, either locally at Temple Cowley, or nationally.
This site last updated November 5th ’09
The active membership is now around 30 in number; the church also hosts the Oxford Parent Infant Project.
On the site of the former church hall next door, Dominion Housing have built a new
community house for Emmaus Oxford -
2008 : A New Vision
In May ’07 the church embarked on a new journey : we are considering establishing a residential Christian community committed to practical engagement in social action in the area. If it proves feasible, it is likely to be a couple of years before we have the resources to do it, but follow the link (left) to the Community House page and you can learn more about it and its progress.
Policy on Naming ceremonies (‘Christenings’) for infants.
Temple Cowley United Reformed Church offers Services of Blessing & Thanksgiving at
a time and place to suit the family. That may be Sunday morning, but does not have
to be. This is a centuries-
Baptism is a rite of initiation into the Christian Church, and parents who bring a child for baptism are required to promise that they will bring the child up in the church (i.e. they will be part of the life of an actual worshipping Christian community). It is becoming more common these days for people to want to make their own choice to be baptised rather than having it made for them by their parents.
Because, in the URC, it is the church members’ meeting that is the ‘priest’ (not the minister) a service of baptism can only take place during Sunday morning worship. Where a Sunday is a fifth Sunday in the month, we hold it available for such services, but cannot guarantee that a Minister will be available on other Sundays.
The Minister will be pleased to visit you to think this through with you.
You may find the following article helpful as you think it through :
Family Values (Inherited Religion and Personal Faith)
