Assemble Church

The church sits quietly on the edge of Newark, an unassuming brick structure that doesn't announce itself with the usual stone bells and towers you'd expect. Walk through the doors and you're inside something genuinely unexpected - a working chapel that feels more like stepping into someone's living room than a traditional place of worship. The interior is sparse, modern, deliberately stripped back. This is Assemble Church, and it's the kind of place that either clicks with you immediately or leaves you wondering what all the fuss is about.

It's really for people who've got tired of the pomp and formality. If you're after gothic arches and medieval stonework, look elsewhere. But if you're interested in how faith communities actually operate today - stripped of ceremony, focused on conversation and community - then an hour here is genuinely worthwhile. The lack of pretence is refreshing.

Freedom to visit tends to be the case with churches, though it's worth ringing ahead or checking their social media to catch service times. Newark's close enough that you could easily combine this with a stay at BrackenXcapes or Wigwam Holidays' Orchard Stables site nearby - both solid options if you're basing yourself in the area for a longer break. Neither is more than five miles away, so you're looking at a quick drive from your accommodation. On its own it won't fill an afternoon, but as part of exploring what Newark has to offer, it's a proper look at modern British church life.