Reverend Andy Pakula, minister of the New Unity Church, with some members of his congregation

ONE of the UK’s only “non-religious” churches is waving goodbye to its pioneering minister after 16 years of service.

Described as “warm” and “respectful” by his congregation, Reverend Andy Pakula resembles the traditional vicar in many ways, bar one: he does not believe in God.

His atheism has not been an obstacle to a long and successful career as the minister of New Unity Church, based in Upper Street and Newington Green. New Unity, an outgrowth of the Unitarian movement, is one of the few churches in the UK to describe itself as “non-religious”.

Taking over in 2007, Rev Pakula said he has watched his congregation grow from “being one of the smallest congregations to the largest [Unitarian] congregation in the UK”.

Rev Pakula, 64, is retiring this week and plans to move to Scotland with his wife and dogs.

A lot has changed since he first arrived in Islington.

“When I arrived, [New Unity] was really tiny and much more traditional, geared towards people who liked regular church,” Rev Pakula said.

Since then he has steered the organisation in a “non-theistic” direction. His proudest moment at the church came “really early in my ministry”, he said, before gay marriage was legalised in the UK.

Reverend Pakula with MP Emily Thornberry

“We decided early on we wouldn’t marry straight people until we could marry gay couples – that was amazing,” Rev Pakula said.

Rev Pakula, who is from America, became a minister in his forties after a successful career in the biotech industry. He joined “a congregation with non-theists, and I became more connected with how powerful the community is”.

“We live in a culture that’s mostly secular,” Rev Pakula said, adding that in the UK only about one-third of the population believes in God. “At the same time, there is a tremendous lack of community and connection in people’s lives,” he said.

“The two-thirds who don’t believe in God – which includes me – deserve something,” he added. While religious people are not excluded from New Unity services, Rev Pakula said “people who come aren’t going to hear me talking about God”.

Instead of religious texts, Rev Pakula will read “poetry and excerpts from books and live music”. He delivers secular addresses and encourages the congregation to share their joys and sorrows over a lit candle.

He said his church focuses on tackling “social justice issues” and says atheism shouldn’t be a barrier to finding purpose and meaning in one’s life. For Rev Pakula, New Unity serves as a vital antidote to consumer culture.

He said: “Our culture tells us to be happy in the moment: get this car and you will be happy, buy these clothes and you will be happy, this phone will make you happy – and it will, in the moment – but when you look back at the sweep of your life, very different things emerge as being important.”

Penny Walker, a long-term member of the congregation, said: “I would like to give him enormous thanks. I came to New Unity when there were lots of difficult things in my life. It was a place I could relax – there were people who cared. He should be really proud of what he’s created. As a congregation, we’re looking forward to continuing his work.”

Rev Pakula will soon be replaced by Reverend CJ McGregor.