Live better, help often, wonder more – that’s the message the people behind an organisation known as “the atheist church” are trying to promote.

Sunday Assembly was started by stand-up comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans, who discovered they both missed many of the aspects of a Sunday morning church service.

But the pair wanted to create something totally secular and inclusive of all, no matter what they believed, and so Sunday Assembly was born.

The first meeting took place in January 2013 in Islington, when almost 200 people turned up. There are now 68 Sunday Assembly chapters in eight countries where people sing songs, enjoy inspiring talks, and create communities together.

Sue Crowder, from Bournemouth, began the town’s own Sunday Assembly group after being struck by the motto when she saw the founders on a breakfast TV show.

“I’ve been looking for something for years,” she explains.

“I thought ‘that’s it, that’s what I want to do’. So many people don’t believe in God, but a lot of people go to church because they want to belong, but they feel a bit hypocritical.

“The Sunday Assembly is a secular congregation that celebrates life. They have used the phrase ‘the best bits of church without religion’. Their focus is on the values or on the beliefs, so it really doesn’t matter if people come that have a particular affiliation.

“They’re very racially inclusive and they don’t want to knock religion at all.”

Sue emailed the London branch and was put in touch with other people in the area who wanted to set up a Sunday Assembly group in Bournemouth.

The first meeting took place just over a year ago and its members are now looking to spread the word about the sense of community they have created.

Sunday Assembly meets once a month at The Embassy in Brassey Road, Winton, where members enjoy song, speakers and friendship, as well as take part in projects to help the local community.

Committee member Kevin Stych came across Sunday Assembly while searching online for a community group to join.

“I had been feeling, like Sue felt, like I wanted to do something more in terms of being part of a wider community and being with people that were offering something back,” he explains.

“I had gone to groups that I thought were more about shared interests. I never really got that sense of community. I was quite impressed by community churches’ delivery in the community, but I wanted something more for non-believers.”

Kevin made contact with Sue and attended his first meeting in August.

“I thought this was the basis of everything that I was hoping for. I just wanted to get out there with Sue and help people see what was being created,” he says.

“It’s about being a community. We don’t do religion, but we don’t mind if you do.”

The group, which currently has between nine and 15 members attending each meeting, is now focused on reaching out to the community, to attract more members to help with local projects, such as collecting clothes for the homeless and donations for foodbanks.

“We have a speaker at each session,” explains Sue.

“We find the speaker first and then theme around it with the songs, maybe a story like a Buddhist story or a parable to fit in with the theme.

“So many people have come and said they’ve really enjoyed it.”

The group has set up its own book club, hosts regular coffee mornings and is planning to organise a “community day of action” whenever there is a fifth Sunday in the month, in line with Sunday Assembly London.

“Trying to break through the idea that it’s non-religious is quite difficult” says Kevin.

“But it’s really picked up the last month or two. There must be other people out there that want to be part of something. It’s not just about coming along when you’re feeling great, it’s about taking an interest in people’s lives beyond the Sunday Assembly.

“Come along and be part of the community.”

  • Sunday Assembly Bournemouth takes place (usually) at The Embassy in Brassey Road, Winton, on the last Sunday of each month. Find out more at bournemouth.sundayassembly.com, facebook.com/ sundayassemblybournemouth, or by emailing sue_crowder@yahoo.co.uk.