Detailed Church History | First Unitarian Universalist Church

1860	Rev. Isaac M. Westfall of Lafayette, Indiana, preached the first Universalist sermon in Olmsted County.
1866-1867	Rev. Silas Wakefield of Elkader, Iowa was called to serve the newly formed church. A small church was built on the current site of the Plummer building for $2,200 and was dedicated on November 21, 1866.
1869-1873	Rev. Eliza Tupper Wilkes was called to serve as this church's first female minister.
1877	Grace Church was built at a cost of $11,000 (excluding carpeting and upholstering). Horace Greely (an influential American journalist and political leader), having attending a lecture in Rochester, stayed over to attend the Universalist church on Sunday morning.
1889	Sometime around here the first pipe organ in Rochester was bought for Grace Church.
1894	On May 13th the church observed the 25th anniversary of the first Universalist service in Rochester. Membership was 175 people. Dr. William Worrall Mayo lived next door and he stated: "I find myself in rather peculiar, and for me, unusual surroundings, not being a member of any church but the large church whose temple is the universe and its canopy the blue heavens lighted by the stars. In religious matters I am a sort of citizen of the world. I have respect for the religious life of all people. ... If is of comparatively recent date that men dared express their ideas. The establishment of your church dates back less than 100 years, but the golden thread of universal salvation has passed down through the ages. For good men, it was hard to entertain the idea that a just God would burn people for all eternity because they knew nothing of him. Then came the idea that man's character is formed for him and not by him, that our religion and our birthplace are mere matters of accidents. For this idea of universal salvation to all men your church has passed through much persecution and I believe today you are not classed as Christians. Strange idea that you should be denounced because it horrified you to think souls should be burned forever."
1906	The city churches sponsored a revival under the direction of renowned evangelist Billy Sunday. The Tri-State Messenger newspaper reported. . . "A large tabernacle erected for the purpose is filled daily to hear the message. The Universalists were invited to join but declined because of Mr. Sunday's virulent attacks on our faith at other places. Our special services will follow the revival by Mr. Sunday."
1907	A parsonage was bought in September for $3,450 on West 3rd Street.
1915	Grace Church was sold to Drs. William and Charles Mayo on July 19, 1915 and a new church was built at 3rd Ave and 3rd Street SW. The building cost $30,000 and the land cost $10,000.
1920's	During the Great Depression things became difficult for the church. The Rev. Owen Eames called for pledges to be increased or the church "will go down like a sinking ship."
1930	The church was saved financially by assistance from the Owatonna Universalist Church.
1935	The Rev. R. Homer Gleason pointed out in his annual report the need for a liberal church in Rochester, and that "the First Universalist Church may be that church, if it will..." he said in closing, "The past year has born in me the conviction that the turning point in this church is very near. We are going to see the light and our new motto for the year should be 'keep on keeping on.'"
1940's	When the Rev. Horton Colbert came in the fall of 1940, a new parsonage at 514 Seventh Ave SW was purchased. The Rev. Colbert and his successor, the Rev. George LaPoint, both had radio ministries in the community.
1950's	Under the Rev. LaPoint's leadership, the Beacon Curriculum of the Universalist Church was installed in the religious education program. A mural project depicting the curriculum themes of the church school program was initiated and completed. Members paid for nine paintings by William Saltzman for the church school rooms.
1961	Member Alicia Clagget helped the denomination in securing property on Star Island at Cass Lake in Northern Minnesota. This property latter became the home of Camp Unistar.
1962	The church formally changed its name to First Unitarian Universalist Church to recognize the 1961 national merger of the Unitarian and Universalist denominations.
1964	The congregation raised funds to send the Rev. Vernon Curry, minister at that time, to Selma, Alabama, to take part in civil rights marches. Also that year, Sue Bateman was employed as the first paid director of religious education. The church property was sold to the Mayo Foundation for $200,000. Five and one-half acres of wooded hillside were purchased on the frontage road west of Hwy 52. Stained glass windows were saved from the old church and are a highlight of the current church building.
1968	The new building (our current home) was occupied in March of this year.
1973-83	Under the leadership of the Rev. Alexander "Scotty" Meek, Jr., the church initiated a parent cooperative nursery school for the community, began holding forums on matters of public interest, paid off the building mortgage (in 1980), purchased a grand piano, built an 18th Century reproduction harpsichord, sponsored a resettlement of a Vietnamese refugee family, and installed a pipe organ, which was a gift of Mary Kahler Hench. In 1983 the annual meeting of the Prairie Star District was hosted by the congregation.
1985	The church called the Rev. Fred F. Campbell as minister. The concept of the Caring Congregation was developed, which helped provide volunteer assistance to members in times of crisis and need. Deep Ecology was studied by adult education classes. This period was marked by extensive building improvements, the founding of a chamber concert series, the revival of the popular Boar's Head Feast, and plans for a memorial garden. Summer lay-led services were initiated and organized by the Rev. Campbell and the Religious Services Committee.
1987	Church member Erv Miller was elected to the Unitarian Universalist Board of Trustees, representing the Prairie Star and Western Canada Districts.
1990-92	The Rev. Campbell left and the Rev. John S. Gilbert was called to serve as interim minister. During 1991-92 the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. The celebration began with a sermon by the Rev. John Cummins, Minister Emeritus of First Universalist, Minneapolis, and concluded with a two-day visit and Sunday service by the Rev. Dr. William F. Schultz, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Special music was composed by music director Kevin Dobbe. Membership was approximately 200, with a Sunday school attendance of 100.
1992 - 2005	In 1992 the congregation called the Rev. Dillman Baker Sorrells to be its minister, which set in motion many significant program changes and remarkable growth. That growth signaled several changes: the congregation has two identical services each Sunday except during summer, and there are now two full-time and three part-time staff members including the minister, and two volunteers with specific duties. Special new services are now integral parts of Sunday services, including a water ceremony at the beginning of the church year, a flower communion, and a Maundy Thursday service. A full supply of new hymnals was purchased. The Venture, a report of church activities and information, is published bi-monthly, and mailed to all members and friends. A number of improvements were included in a million-dollar renovation project. A new elevator serving all four levels of the building was installed so that now the entire building is accessible. A new larger entrance and revised approach to the building has made the entire area more attractive. Significant refurbishing made the interior more attractive. Several silk banners now decorate the auditorium and attractive cases display collections of church documents and space is provided for historical photographs and other art. The congregation also made several statements about the quality of its service. It officially became a Welcoming Congregation, added covenant groups, adult RE programs, a leadership retreat, and again hosted the Prairie Star District annual meeting. The congregation received the O. Eugene Picket Award in 1995, and former member Linda Horton was named Unsung UU at the 2004 General Assembly. Mary Amundsen was elected president of the District in 2004. Reverend Sorrells announced her retirement as of August 1, 2005 and at the annual meeting she was bestowed the title Minister Emerita. The Rev. Sue Turner has been called as an interim minister, and a search committee seeking the next permanent minister has been elected.