As an open religious fellowship, Unitarians are united by simple services of worship, shared commitments to action, and social events. The key concept in our worship is the original meaning of the word; that is celebrating the most important values and events of significance in our lives. Congregational worship which usually takes place on a Sunday in a church or similar building need not necessarily follow the traditional patterns. Thus worship may include hymns, prayers/meditations, readings and periods of silence, but can also include less conventional elements such as modern music, dance or poetry as well as elements drawn from other religious traditions. The shape of worship is determined as much by the views and needs of the congregation as by the experience and talents of their minister or other person leading the service. Many of the places used for worship are several hundred years old and some of them are listed buildings, but some of the smaller congregations meet in rented rooms or each others homes. Socialising after the service also plays an important part in a Unitarian's week.

Special services may mark dates in the Judaeo-Christian calendar, important festivals of other faiths, or events of general significance to humankind (such as United Nations Day or Gandhi's birthday).

Unitarians also have special services to celebrate important points in the cycle of life - birth, naming, marriage or commitment to a relationship, death, or thanksgiving for a life of significance. As we are not bound to particular forms of service, we are able to make these special services personal to the needs and values of the people involved. The nearest minister or qualified lay-person is usually willing to provide these services to non-Unitarians. For information on your nearest Unitarian place of worship click here.