The Windermere Centre – which focused on delivering residential courses for lay people – closed on 25 May 2017. The decision to close the Centre was made at Mission Council on 13 and 14 May 2017, following long and difficult deliberations, and acknowledging a profound debt of gratitude for its unique, 30-year contribution to the life of the United Reformed Church.

The decision to close the centre was made with sadness, yet with determination that the legacy of the Centre will continue with the work of the Centre in digital discipleship and online training part of the URC’s future offer for lay training and congregational development. Full information on the decision to close the centre, including full text of the Mission Council resolutions, can be found here. 

On Saturday 15 July A service of thanksgiving for the life of the Windermere Centre was held at Carver Uniting Church; the Revd Tony Burnham preached and the full text of his sermon can be found here.

 A link to the online video of the service is also available here.

A prayer of thanksgiving for the life of the Windermere Centre

Eternal God,
We give you thanks for three life-changing decades
in the life of the United Reformed Church
through the Windermere Centre – our home in the Lakes.

We called this place our home.
It was our place to
develop creativity
explore faith
share stories
craft prayer
nurture wisdom
sing and dance
grow spiritually
find God.
Thank you, Lord.

We called this place our home.
It was our place where we found:
space to stretch and breathe
care-full hospitality
inspiring worship
friendships nurtured
gifts recognised
injustice exposed
equal opportunity
Word opened.
Thank you, Lord.

We called this place our home.
What remains?
Grief and gratitude
Memories of laughter, insights, epiphanies
Friendships forged on the anvil of faith
Fierce pioneering of paths which, trodden by steady feet, will not be erased
A legacy of opened space for the diffident and defiant.
This place, our home, is no more
but God will not be confined.