King Edward Street Chapel
A Unitarian Chapel in the Heart of Macclesfield
About us
King Edward Street Chapel has been a place of religious and spiritual freedom since 1690. Here we teach no creed and do not tell people what to think or believe. We have the freedom to seek the truth for ourselves, to make our own decisions about what we do or do not believe, to doubt, to question, and perhaps to change our minds, as our faith grows and develops on our path through life.
The Chapel received its licence as a meeting house for public worship for those dissenting from the Church of England following the Act of Toleration in 1689. It became Unitarian during the eighteenth century. Today, it is an independent chapel, affiliated with the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches.
Our Values
We affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We believe in equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, faith, or physical and mental health.
We are committed to social responsibility – to making a positive difference in the communities in which we live.
We advocate for peace, justice, liberty, equity and compassion in human relations.
We are open to the sincerely held beliefs of others, without judgment, and aim to learn from one another, believing diversity enriches our lives.
We exercise freedom of conscience and responsibility in our search for truth and meaning.
We are committed to respecting the interdependent web of being of which we are a part.
Join us at a Gathering
Sunday Gatherings
Our Sunday services start at 10 am and last for about an hour. They usually include several songs, readings, one or two periods of prayer and meditation, music, and a short reflection on a theme from the leader. Services are led by our minister, by members of the chapel, and by visiting speakers from other chapels. All welcome. Please see our What’s On page for this week’s theme.
Tao on Tuesday
We gather at 12.30 pm on Tuesdays to meditate on the wisdom of the Tao (the Way). We read a passage from the Tao de Ching, the ancient Chinese sacred text, and a passage from 365 Tao by Deng-Ming Dao, a contemporary Taoist author. We enjoy shared silence for meditation and then share our reflections on the text. Our discussions are always interesting! All welcome.
Other Events
We host a wide variety of events in the chapel – from music concerts and drumming circles to meetings for Quaker worship and 12 step programme meetings. Please see our calendar for more information.
Our Members’ Experiences
“What I love about Unitarianism is that the emphasis is on the authority of the individual to interpret scripture and teachings of the church as we understand it. No rules, or creeds to be obeyed – however unrealistic they seem to be . . . We come together to share our views, to listen, to absorb, to learn and to be enriched by them It makes me want to keep coming back – it makes sense of our own increasingly chaotic lives.”
“My journey at KES reminds me of the story of Goldilocks’ and the three bears. I use to go to a church where the porridge was far too hot, and so I went to another church where I found the porridge to be much too cold. Then I came to KES where the porridge was just right.
The freedom to believe, the freedom to doubt, the freedom to believe in myself as I continue on my journey. Oh yes what a wonderful place to be!”
“I have been attending KES since I was 7 years old and have always felt welcome in this community that has evolved over the years. I have always felt welcome as I have come and gone throughout my university years. I married at the Chapel and had my son welcomed here too because even though I am not overtly religious like many I wanted to mark significant events in my life with some form of ceremony and celebration. Even though I am not a regular attender at the moment, I still feel welcome whenever I am able to come to KES.”
King Edward Street Chapel 