Kingston URC

03/09/2026

This week we celebrated the life of Ann Mcfarlene who passed away in August. Although the service was somehow poignant, it was a real celebration and tribute to the remarkable woman! Her life in this church and to the community, specially to those who had a disability, was immense.

It was nice to meet again the familiar people, who were members of our church in the past. People who travelled from Scotland, Midlands and the North and those not only from our church but from a wider community who came to this service. Of course, it was nice to see Roy and Avril Lowes (Roy was the Minister of this church prior to Lesley) and who said that it is like coming back to the old home again!

We heard many stories of Ann and saw photos of her many travels abroad, but it was interesting to hear that Ann wrote a few hymns (which we will definitely sing in our church) and a book of her poems was published. I understand that it will be re-published again, so perhaps we could purchase them and our small tokens will go to the church funds. In the Foreword of that booklet written by Keith Fisher B.D. he said: “…Knowing that Ann’s poetry is born of hard personal experience and grounded in strong Christian faith…”.
Here is one of her poem’s which will go to the church funds in Ann’s memory.
For All That Is To Be

I do not fear life’s unknown path,
Events that are to be,
For God upholds, surrounds, befriends,
He clings steadfast to me.

Throughout life’s years, down sunlit days
Dark hours I can’t see,
His strength without, His love within,
Held fast, and part of me.

Goodbye, our dear Friend, and fly in your wheelchair to God’s Kingdom, who gladly welcomes His faithful servant.

10/08/2026

"For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you. "Fear not, I am the One who helps you" - Isaiah 41:13

The theme of yesterday's Sunday service started with a question to the congregation. What you do and whom you depend on how you will "hang on" on when a tough time comes to your life?

After the service we shared our lunch together.

24/07/2026

Last Wednesday we had the Generation Zone event in our church. This time the theme of the day was LOVE. The elder children and adults discussed the questions like
- How do you know if someone loves you?
- How can you show love to someone you know and someone you don't?
- Is loving someone different from liking someone?

Many children made the cards and in their own creative way have expressed how they "envisage" a word, "love".

And of course, we had the delicious soups, bowls of ice cream with fruits and plenty of drinks.

Many thanks to all who designed and participated in this event!

20/07/2026

Last Sunday one of our members, Teresa James, celebrated her round figure and we all in once voice sang to her "Happy Birthday"! Our best wishes to you, dear Teresa, you deserve it!

30/06/2026

WHY NOT TO JOIN US!?

21/06/2026

Members of our church with their friends attending the Southern Synod First Fun Day!

21/06/2026

Yesterday members of KURC with their friends went to the Shires Oast near Turnbridge Wells in Kent for their first Southern Synod Fun Day Out. The organising team have been working very hard to make this a day of fun, food and fellowship. We travelled by a small air-conditioned bus, and luckily the weather was very kind to us and also, the sun was smiling on us occasionally, most of the time it was cool and cloudy. Some of our members came later using their own transport.

We were allowed to bring along our own picnic baskets and blankets, but there was other food and drink on offer from the bar on the day, and seating around the venue in the garden. We had good protection from the weather by a huge marquee and the activities took place inside the building.
For young children there were the bouncy castles and other outdoor games provided. There was pom-pom making, decorating biscuits, journey sticks made of marshmallows, music notes (for Greenbelt) and many others.

For the adults it started with the prayers session and everyone had a set of a coloured strings which eventually we braided together in a rope. A theme of the service was that we can overcome many obstacles in life if we are not single but supported with each other and being together.

We had a sing-song of popular hymns and then two trainers came and engaged the crowd with different exercises accompanied by music. By the end we all were looking outside where the tables with food were laid out. We all had a burger with a salad, condiments and canned drinks.

We finished with prayers and the agape meal, which was a kind of Holy Communion when all people received the biscuits with grapes and after the prayers ate them together.
We are grateful for the kind organisers of this event and already are looking forward to their similar events to bring people together from the other churches to have fun together and praise the LORD!

17/06/2026

Dear Readers,

Please read the informative article with the photos which KCIL published on their website in memory of Ann Macfarlane, OBE.

You may be surprised how much this woman achieved and has done for our society.

She will be sorely missed by all of us.

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the death of our Patron, Ann Macfarlane OBE. Ann was a giant of the Independent Living Movement and one of the most influential disability rights campaigners of her generation. Her determination, leadership and vision helped transform the lives o...

15/06/2026

Last Saturday in our church we had the "Hope in Bloom" Summer Concert organised by the Voices of Hope charity. The Programme contained the performances of 2 choirs from the voluntary Voices of Hope charity from Richmond and Kingston; a Korean Choir from New Malden, a Korean professionally trained opera singer who sang a popular aria from the opera and filled the audience with her clear and strong voice; the Korean dancers with colourful fans and the Ukrainian Choir (all the way from Cambridge!) with their enthusiastic conductor Tanya, who also sang a solo. The audience had also a chance to join choirs and sing with them the popular songs.

After the concert everyone was invited to the Mayo Hall for tea/coffee/cakes and fruits. It was really a joyful afternoon indeed! And thank you for the volunteers and organisers of the Voices of Hope!!!

12/06/2026

Yesterday in our church we had another Musical Recital. This time we had a pleasure to listen to the organ music played to us by Stephen Westrop.

Stephen was a pupil at Tiffin School. He sang in the All Saints, Kingston church choir and played the organ for occasional services. He was organ scholar at Norwich Cathedral while reading music at the University of East Anglia and went on to study at the London Opera Centre. Since then he has worked extensively as a repetiteur and conductor and was Director of the London Symphony Chorus for 11 years. He was also Assistant Chorus Master at the Royal Opera for 13 years. He retired from the post of Director of Music at All Saints Church, Kingston in 2018.

He presented to us the works of Saint-Sans, Brahms, J S Bach, Elgar, Hollins and Whitlock.

Our next recital will be given by pianist Catherine Leonard on Thursday 17 September at 1.15pm.