CROWDS came together for some irreligious fun for Oxford’s first atheist assembly.

More than 120 people attended the inaugural service of the Oxford Sunday Assembly, held at Oxford Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre in St Ebbes.

It was held on Saturday to accommodate a visit from Sunday Assembly founder and comedian Sanderson Jones, from London.

Psychologist and church member Rob Bailey, 42, from East Oxford said: “It was brilliant.

“We weren’t surprised by the turnout. At one point we were worried there wasn’t going to be enough space.”

The service started at 11am with two alternative hymns – The Circle of Life from Disney’s The Lion King and Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now. Those were followed by poetry readings and a 20-minute talk on how to eat a raisin mindfully from Mark Leonard of Oxford Mindfulness Centre.

  • The next service will be held on Sunday, December 1, at the Old Fire Station from 11am.