News & Events

If you’ve never been to a Unitarian service – or indeed any sort of church service – it can be daunting to attend one for the first time. The following may help as a useful guide if you don’t know what to expect on your first visit to Norcliffe.

• Day and time: Our services take place at 6pm each Sunday evening, except on the first Sunday of each month when it will be at 10:45am. Service usually last around 50 to 60 minutes. At Christmas and on Easter Sunday the times will vary, but these will be publicised well in advance.
• Parking: We are located in the heart of Styal village. If you use the postcode SK9 4JE in your satnav this will get you to the National Trust car park, where you can park for free during services. Don’t worry about the sign saying the car park closes at 6pm – it remains open until after the service on Sundays by special arrangement.
• Dress: Don’t feel you need to wear your Sunday best (unless you want to!). Dress to chapel is generally fairly casual. Jeans and a jumper is perfectly ok.
• Minister: Our regular minister is Rev Alex Bradley, who is also Principal of Unitarian College Manchester. Alex is part-time, so roughly a third of our services are led by visiting ministers from other chapels or by lay preachers.
• Format: Services will usually start with some opening words and the lighting of the chalice candle, a symbol of our Unitarian faith. There will be a number of readings from the bible and from other sources, prayers and time for silent reflection. The minister will deliver a sermon that is usually around 10 to 15 minutes long, and the offertory (collection) will be taken to help fund the running of the chapel. There will usually be four hymns during the service, and some closing words at the end. There is no need to worry about when to sit or stand, as the person leading the service will clearly indicate what is appropriate and when.
• Tea and coffee: We serve tea and coffee after the service during which time there is the chance to have a chat with other members of the congregation. It’s great if you can join us, but don’t feel you have to if you need to get home.
• Children: Children are welcome all services and there are toy bags for quiet play.

Knutsford Sunday Service at Brook Street Chapel

Services at the chapel are on the first and third Sundays of the month at 2.15 pm.

Although it is not restricted by dogma, our worship can be viewed as a celebration of our deepest values. We see our religious beliefs as relevant to all aspects of life including the wider community.

We have a Lay Person in Charge, Vince McCully, who looks after the pastoral needs of the congregation. Vince usually takes six services during the year.

Our other Sunday services are conducted by a visiting minister or lay preacher. They usually consist of an address or reflection, prayer and meditation, music, hymn-singing,and occasional dramatic presentations. Our readings are from the Bible but also from relevant material from other faiths.

We enjoy a wide variety of perspectives from visiting speakers who may sometimes include Presbyterian, United Reform and Church of England ministers.

All visitors and enquirers are made most welcome and are invited to join us for tea and a chat after special services such as anniversaries and festivals

Following the COVID-19 lockdown we will be aiming to gradually resume our normal services. We are beginning this process by starting with our Sunday Service. We will be implementing a social distancing policy and restricting numbers in order to help protect our chapel members; ensuring both their safety and the safety of their families. We aim to resume our other services and activities when appropriate. For further information please do not hesitate to reach out to us. 

Sunday Services: All Welcome!

Sunday services begin at 11.00a.m. each week.
We welcome visitors and anyone who is looking for a place to worship.

The service usually finishes at 12.00 noon

Knutsford Sunday Service at Brook Street Chapel

If you’ve never been to a Unitarian service – or indeed any sort of church service – it can be daunting to attend one for the first time. The following may help as a useful guide if you don’t know what to expect on your first visit to Norcliffe.

• Day and time: Our services take place at 6pm each Sunday evening, except on the first Sunday of each month when it will be at 10:45am. Service usually last around 50 to 60 minutes. At Christmas and on Easter Sunday the times will vary, but these will be publicised well in advance.
• Parking: We are located in the heart of Styal village. If you use the postcode SK9 4JE in your satnav this will get you to the National Trust car park, where you can park for free during services. Don’t worry about the sign saying the car park closes at 6pm – it remains open until after the service on Sundays by special arrangement.
• Dress: Don’t feel you need to wear your Sunday best (unless you want to!). Dress to chapel is generally fairly casual. Jeans and a jumper is perfectly ok.
• Minister: Our regular minister is Rev Alex Bradley, has now retired. We will have the following, standing in for the next few months:
  October – Francis Elliot Wright
  November – Rev. Andrew Parker
  December – Rev. Ant Howe
  January and February – Garry Hammond – Lay person
• Format: Services will usually start with some opening words and the lighting of the chalice candle, a symbol of our Unitarian faith. There will be a number of readings from the bible and from other sources, prayers and time for silent reflection. The minister will deliver a sermon that is usually around 10 to 15 minutes long, and the offertory (collection) will be taken to help fund the running of the chapel. There will usually be four hymns during the service, and some closing words at the end. There is no need to worry about when to sit or stand, as the person leading the service will clearly indicate what is appropriate and when.
• Tea and coffee: We serve tea and coffee after the service during which time there is the chance to have a chat with other members of the congregation. It’s great if you can join us, but don’t feel you have to if you need to get home.
• Children: Children are welcome all services and there are toy bags for quiet play.

Knutsford Sunday Service at Brook Street Chapel

Following the COVID-19 lockdown we will be aiming to gradually resume our normal services. We are beginning this process by starting with our Sunday Service. We will be implementing a social distancing policy and restricting numbers in order to help protect our chapel members; ensuring both their safety and the safety of their families. We aim to resume our other services and activities when appropriate. For further information please do not hesitate to reach out to us. 

Sunday Services: All Welcome!

Sunday services begin at 11.00a.m. each week.
We welcome visitors and anyone who is looking for a place to worship.

The service usually finishes at 12.00 noon

Services at the chapel are on the first and third Sundays of the month at 2.15 pm.

Although it is not restricted by dogma, our worship can be viewed as a celebration of our deepest values. We see our religious beliefs as relevant to all aspects of life including the wider community.

We have a Lay Person in Charge, Vince McCully, who looks after the pastoral needs of the congregation. Vince usually takes six services during the year.

Our other Sunday services are conducted by a visiting minister or lay preacher. They usually consist of an address or reflection, prayer and meditation, music, hymn-singing,and occasional dramatic presentations. Our readings are from the Bible but also from relevant material from other faiths.

We enjoy a wide variety of perspectives from visiting speakers who may sometimes include Presbyterian, United Reform and Church of England ministers.

All visitors and enquirers are made most welcome and are invited to join us for tea and a chat after special services such as anniversaries and festivals

If you’ve never been to a Unitarian service – or indeed any sort of church service – it can be daunting to attend one for the first time. The following may help as a useful guide if you don’t know what to expect on your first visit to Norcliffe.

• Day and time: Our services take place at 6pm each Sunday evening, except on the first Sunday of each month when it will be at 10:45am. Service usually last around 50 to 60 minutes. At Christmas and on Easter Sunday the times will vary, but these will be publicised well in advance.
• Parking: We are located in the heart of Styal village. If you use the postcode SK9 4JE in your satnav this will get you to the National Trust car park, where you can park for free during services. Don’t worry about the sign saying the car park closes at 6pm – it remains open until after the service on Sundays by special arrangement.
• Dress: Don’t feel you need to wear your Sunday best (unless you want to!). Dress to chapel is generally fairly casual. Jeans and a jumper is perfectly ok.
• Minister: Our regular minister is Rev Alex Bradley, who is also Principal of Unitarian College Manchester. Alex is part-time, so roughly a third of our services are led by visiting ministers from other chapels or by lay preachers.
• Format: Services will usually start with some opening words and the lighting of the chalice candle, a symbol of our Unitarian faith. There will be a number of readings from the bible and from other sources, prayers and time for silent reflection. The minister will deliver a sermon that is usually around 10 to 15 minutes long, and the offertory (collection) will be taken to help fund the running of the chapel. There will usually be four hymns during the service, and some closing words at the end. There is no need to worry about when to sit or stand, as the person leading the service will clearly indicate what is appropriate and when.
• Tea and coffee: We serve tea and coffee after the service during which time there is the chance to have a chat with other members of the congregation. It’s great if you can join us, but don’t feel you have to if you need to get home.
• Children: Children are welcome all services and there are toy bags for quiet play.