The godless congregation that started at a deconsecrated church in north London and captured the imagination of people around the world – it has assemblies in everywhere from Aberdeen to Accra – brings a festive event to town this weekend.
The brainchild of comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, the assembly is for those who want to ‘live better, help often and wonder more’ (as their motto shares) and was born during a car journey to Bath in which the duo ruminated on doing something that had the best bits of church only, you know, without the man upstairs. There are talks and singing, only it is to The Beatles and Oasis rather than staid hymns. They expected a smattering of people to the first one in January 2013, instead the place was full. Soon they were doing two ‘services’ a day and then it went global with almost 200 assemblies now around the world and counting!
This pre-Christmas assembly has as its theme Winter Wonderland and will feature Dan Simpson, who handily explains his profession as ‘spoken word poet and compere, poetry projects and event organiser, workshop facilitator and writer’ and boats the wonderful Charlotte Coates as host and MC. There is also going to be a very special, as yet super secret mystery guest as the headline speaker. And we predict, maybe the odd Christmas sing-along too – we hope they do The Darkness’ Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End).
When: December 21 / 11am
Where: Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, WC1R 4RL
Cost: Free
Tube: Holborn
Web: Sunday assembly.com
