Our History

Origins

In 1811 a Universalist Minister, William Vidler started preaching in Reading. Together with Richard Wright a Chapel was opened in 1813, although it closed in 1820.

In 1877 a Chapel was opened on London Road, Reading, which was at the time surrounded by fields. It was not far from the Royal Berkshire Hospital, opened in 1839. Members of the Chapel played an important role in the life of the town, including there being 3 Mayors. By the 1940’s however, the membership declined and for some years the building was rented by the Spiritualists.

In 1957 the London and District Provincial Assembly (LDPA) , the regional group of Unitarian congregations, reopened the Church and for several years the Church was served by visiting Ministers and student Ministers. From 1965 to 1967 Rev. Judith Walker-Riggs was the permanent Minister.

By 1972 the congregation had again dwindled and in 1974 the building was sold and has since been demolished and redeveloped.

Revival

In 1991, following the national Annual Meetings being held at Reading University it was decided that a Fellowship would be launched. Initially we met in the library of a firm of Solicitors, in which a member was a Partner. It was a calm space in an historic building. Since 2014 we moved to our current location, a few doors down London Street to the meeting rooms at the Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC) where we continue to meet for our monthly services.