Octagon Chapel, Norwich
Encyclopedia
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
Chapel located in Colegate in Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is home to a growing liberal religious community, welcoming people of all religious faiths and none. The congregation is a member of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian, Free Christian and other liberal religious congregations in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662...
.
The chapel is a grade II* listed building built in 1756 and is perfectly octagonal. William Taylor (scholar) and novelist and Lord Mayor R. H. Mottram worshipped here.
Community
Unitarians have no dogma or creed, and take inspiration from all religious teachings, as well as from science and the arts. A sense of community is what the Octagon is all about and there are a variety of groups and activities.- Bring and share lunches
- Women’s Group
- Men's Group
- Craft Group
- Social Responsibility Group
Life Events
The Octagon hosts special ceremonies to mark life's big transitions. Unitarians believe that everyone has the right to seek truth and meaning for themselves, so these ceremonies should be relevant and unique to the people at the centre of them. Services are not bound by tradition but are free to express the personal truths of the people concerned.Octagon Concert Series
The Octagon is proud of its musical heritage. As well as a vibrant musical aspect to worship, the chapel hosts the very successful Octagon Concert Series, which is somewhat unique inasmuch that no performers receives a fee or expenses so that all money raised can be donated to charity or good cause both local and national.Notable ministers
Theophilus BrowneTheophilus Browne
Theophilus Browne was a Unitarian clergyman who was born in 1763 in Derby, England. He had a varied career, with a congregation once paying him to leave a chapel. He also proposed that church funds could be improved using state lotteries....
was appointed minister here in 1809, but was paid to leave the following year.