The Old Meeting House is the oldest Nonconformist building in Tenterden and was built in 1746. The Unitarian Church grew out of the priests being thrown out of St. Mildred’s Church in 1662 because they refused to conform to the Act of Uniformity, which mandated the use of the newly revised Book of Common Prayer and acceptance of episcopal ordination and the Thirty-Nine Articles. So since 1662 there has been a Unitarian presence in Tenterden, and the church has provided the town with several mayors in the past.

But we are reaching a point when critical decisions will have to be made. Before covid, attendances were low, but fairly consistent. Last Sunday, 5 April, was Easter Day, the most important day in the Christian calendar, and just four people came to the service, and one of them was the service leader.

We are not alone in having an aging and declining congregation, nearly all denominations are affected in the same way. But it would be a shame for the town of Tenterden if such an historic building was to be closed and Unitarianism lost to this part of Kent.

However, by the end of 2026, a decision must be taken on the future of the Unitarian Church in Tenterden. We will keep you posted via this website and also Facebook.