Other Websites

• United Pagan Church of Australia
• United Pagan Church (USA)
• Pagan Alliance
• Pagan Awareness Network

Supporters

• Nightwalker.biz

Wise Words

"When one defines oneself as Pagan, it means she or he follows an earth or nature religion, one that sees the divine manifest in all creation. The cycles of nature are our holy days, the earth is our temple, its plants and creatures our partners and teachers. We worship a deity that is both male and female, a mother Goddess and father God, who together created all that is, was, or will be. We respect life, cherish the free will of sentient beings, and accept the sacredness of all creation."

- Edain McCoy

Pagan services for the Hunter

The Hunter Valley United Pagan Church is a Charter Church of the United Pagan Church of Australia, a non-denominational Pagan religious organisation.

The Hunter Valley United Pagan Church (Hunter Pagans) serves those that follow a Pagan path of some form, rather than only those that follow one particular sect. Members follow variations of Witchcraft as well as general Pagan beliefs, with anyone following any Pagan path welcome to join and participate in our meetings and activities.

Paganism, or as it is sometimes now known Neo-Pagansim, is a term that encompasses a number of religious beliefs that center around ancient beliefs that existed for thousands of years before the birth of Christianity. Some forms of Paganism follow certain ancient beliefs closely, whilst others mix aspects of various ancient beliefs to form a modern version more suited to today. Some practice witchcraft, or "the Craft", to help heal and bring good to people, especially those that follow the popular Wicca faith, however not all Pagans are witches or follow witchcraft.

Pagan Clergy

Our Minister’s, although personally following Pagan faiths, are ordained through the Church of Seven Planes as multi-faith Ministers, and so are willing to offer Chaplaincy services not only to Pagan’s but also to anyone that may seek their support or guidance, regardless of faith or beliefs.

While most of those that belong to a traditional denomination may not understand this, how many of those that do not belong to any traditional faith or church have found themselves in hospital, or during a crisis, having nobody to turn to for help, comfort or spiritual guidance? Those of Pagan beliefs know all too well how hard it is to find any Clergy willing to help without trying to convert them first! If you belong to many of the accepted faiths, the hospital will arrange for the local Minister to come and visit if need be, but what happens if you don't follow any of these?

Celebrants

At this stage the UPCoA is not recognised under the Australian Marriage Act, just like many other religious bodies, which means that Ministers can not perform legal marriages at this time, however the UPCoA is in the process of meeting the requirements for this endorsement after which we will be able to offer legal marriage services by a Pagan religious celebrant. In the mean time our Ministers are able to help with other services, including celebrants for Pagan or non-denominational funerals, naming ceremonies, dedication rituals, handfasting ceremonies (either non-legal marriage or in conjunction with a civil celebrant), and more. Read more about the celebrant services presently available.

View a Handfasting You can view some photographs and the actual ritual for our own UPCoA President’s handfasting to his wonderful wife Mel. Click here to go to this page.

Meetings

Regular meetings will be held in Cessnock for those that follow a Pagan path of some type (including Witchcraft, Druidism, etc) once we can find a venue to call home. Further meetings to celebrate the various Sabbats will be held at different locations at the relevant times. If you would like to attend one of these please get in touch and we can give you further details and directions.

Searching for a Home

Do you know of a hall or room that we could use for regular meetings? As with many small non-profit religious groups, Hunter Pagans has very limited finances making it impossible to rent a community hall. Please, if you have a room or venue we can use, or know of such a place, contact us with the details.

Newcastle Meetings

We are seeking interest from Pagans in and around the Newcastle area for monthly gatherings in the Newcastle area. If you would like to see Hunter Pagans commence meetings in Newcastle then please contact us.