Image: The Sunday Assembly
The Atheist Church is expanding from its original location in The Nave, Balls Pond Road. Sanderson Jones is to hold The Sunday Assembly service in Glasgow on Easter Sunday, and Pippa Evans is to launch the service in Australia on 21 April. Islington Now’s Kitty Teague visited the Sunday Assembly in Islington to find out about the service.
Standing outside in the cold I wonder how, half an hour early, I have ended up in a queue. We are not waiting for a club or a gig, or a party or a premiere. It is 10.30am and I am outside a church and a church that has seen better days. And yet, I am surrounded by “churchgoers”, giddy with excitement and dancing along to the hum of the mid-morning crowds.
Unusual as it is to see throngs of worshippers lining the pavements ahead of any weekend sermon, this is amongst the least unusual traits of The Sunday Assembly. This is a burgeoning congregation of atheists who meet at The Nave, just off Balls Pond Road, on the first Sunday of the month.
Each service is overseen by the comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, who came up with the idea after reasoning that they enjoyed elements of the traditional church service, save for the ‘God’ detail.
The service is therefore bereft of Christian imagery. The walls are bare, there is no stained glass, no candles nor burning incense. There aren’t even pews. Instead, bunting adorns the walls, and on each individual flag is pinned a resolution; “do more sport” says one, “live life to the full” another.
As an alternative to religion, the venture is well timed. According to last year’s census, there are more ungodly residents in Islington than any other London borough and Britain has seen a real-term rise in atheists nationwide. As a result, The Sunday Assembly is to be franchised out, bringing the (un)holy spirit into towns across the country.
Jones, the male half of the pioneering double act, begins the service. He cracks a few jokes and introduces our first hymn, Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, which is belted out with an enthusiasm that is unfamiliar in these hallowed halls.
Instead of the sign of peace, the congregation is instructed to greet their brethren with a high five or cheeky snog. Tea and biscuits replace body and blood. By the second hymn – a karaoke rendition of a Stevie Wonder classic – I feel some latent Catholic guilt begin to kick in.
Mass, for much of the country, involves smart clothes, prayers, Latin, hymns and solemnity. Replacing “Be thou my vision” with seventies RnB may take a little getting used to for most.
But however much people may want to be offended by the service, trying to find mockery or spite proved fruitless. The intention to hurt or belittle or dismiss or mock just wasn’t there.
Instead, I came away feeling humbled by the experience, and eager to share the participants’ zest for life. Riddled with affirmations like “It’s a Sunday Morning, and you’re alive!” the service was not only enjoyable, but hugely uplifting.
At no point did Jones ever criticise belief in God, and with such a turnout there is probably little need. “Look at your hand,” Jones instructs the audience. “All the matter in your hand was created by some billion to one, anti-matter imbalance, a trillionth of a trillionth of a second after the universe began. Its wonderful.”
Of course, Jones is a comedian by day and the pseudo-contemplation is therefore refreshingly brief. “I mean,” he continues, “what did you really have to do to be born? Nothing, just nine months before you arrived your father finally got round to putting up some shelves.”
Within all the enjoyment and laughter and fun, the main message of the service was not lost. The assembly’s motto, to “live better, help often and wonder more” was well and truly felt. Amen.
The Assembly takes place at The Nave, 1 St Paul’s Road, N1 2QH on the first Sunday of every month at 11 am.
I really like this whole Idea and would love to attend your next gathering but would ask kindly if possible to have time, date and address of Islington Sunday meeting.
THANKING YOU SO MUCH
JAMES THOMSON (JIMMY)
I’m a Bangladeshi atheist .i was insecure in my country to say I’m atheist .becouse of crazy religious people’s (Muslim ) & illiterate society of Bangladesh . They killed too many atheist scoller for writing against religions.
Now I feel free , I’m free , I got freedom .
I’m looking atheist organisation which one give me proper guide line to be happy on my belive .
Where is no God .
Hi
This is Nazmul Gani . I want to attend to your next assemble that’s why I need your address . Can you help me plz.
hi.
i am atheist .i would like to visit atheist church but i could not find address.please send me address
sajjad haider