Timeline Page

Unitarian History Timeline

• 1811

  The first 2 ministers of South Parish were dismissed because they were too liberal. Between 1809-1811, many distinguished ministers preached, including William Ellery Channing, Unitarian minister in Boston. In 1811, a more conservative minister was hired by one vote. In 1825, he refused to let a Unitarian minister preach at South Parish.
• 1825

  A group from South Parish (Daniel Cony and 57 others) petitioned the legislature to divide the parish so they could separate from South Parish. The new church met in the courthouse.
• 1826

  January 23 act of incorporation passed by legislature, forming The Christian Church of East Parish (east side of the river). Joined the American Unitarian Assn.
• 1827

  October 16 or 23, 1827. Bethlehem Church at the corner of Cony and Stone Streets was dedicated.
• 1828

  September 13, 1828-1831 Rev. William Ford. Born in Scotland, edcuated at Edinboro. Dismissed - views too Calvinistic.
• 1831

  November 1831-1834 Rev. Allen Putnam. Born 1802, Danvers, MA. Harvard Divinity School. Resigned due to loss of wife and ill health.
• 1833

  October. New Unitarian Meeting House at Oak and State St. Cost for land and building was $3800. Moved to west side to be near Capitol.
• 1836

  Bethehem Church sold to Catholics, then to Cony Female Academy (1845), moved to end of downtown bridge, used for business.
• 1836 - 1839

  Rev. Edward Edes. From Unitarian Society at Eastport. Left because political views differed from the members. Went to First Parish, Kennebunk.
• 1840 - 1853

  Rev. Sylvester Judd. Harvard Divinity School. Died unexpectedly January 1853.
• 1846

  New church organization, name changed to Christ Church
• 1854 - 1857

  Rev. Laommi Ware
• 1858 - 1859

  Rev. George Bartlett, Litchfield, ME. Resigned to join the Service, killed in the Civil War, June 2, 1864.
• 1860 - 1866

  Rev. Henry Brown. Some families left church because he was an abolitionist. Had accident and could not work for a year before resigning.
• 1866

  Church closed for several months due to finances.
• 1867 - 1868

  Seth Curtis Beach. Left due to illness.
• 1869 - 1871

  Rev. William Cram. Left for church in Westford, MA
• 1873 - 1874

  Rev. Loring Beckwith. Left due to ill health, poor financial status of church.
• 1875 - 1879

  Rev. Charles Curtis. Drowned in a canoe accident on Moosehead Lake
• 1878

  Name changed to Unitarian Society.
• 1879

  Meetinghouse sold for $90, demolished. New building and furnishings cost $9000. [Dedham, MA, church where Seth Beach, previous minister here, was minister, sent $3000.] Dedicated on December 18.
• 1879 - 1889

  Rev. Philip Thacher. Left to go to California.
• 1888 - 1889

  Rev. Abram W. Jackson, Interim
• 1889 - 1891

  June 1889-September 1891. Rev. Richard A. Griffin. Resigned due to illness.
• 1892

  Organ installed. Previously had been using bass viol and other stringed instruments
• 1892 - 1903

  Elmer E. Newbert
• 1904 - 1906

  Rev. E.G. Spencer
• 1907 - 1911

  Rev. Edwin Slocomb
• 1908

  Name changed to Unitarian Church
• 1912 - 1921

  Rev. Paul Phalen
• 1917

  Name changed to All Souls Church, Unitarian
• 1924 - 1926

  Rev. Dan Huntington Fenn
• 1926 - 1931

  Rev. Walter Greenman. Harvard, from Greenfield, MA. Minister Emeritus
• 1931 - 1939

  November 22, 1931-1939 Rev. H. Mortimer Gresner
• 1932

  May. Chimney or furnace fire during children's party, $500 damage
• 1935

  Parsonage sold. Low attendance. Services held in Parlor.
• 1940 - 1944

  April 15, 1940-July 12, 1944 Rev. Andrew Mahy.
• 1943

  Fire. Arsonist was a shipping clerk at State House library. Also started fires at South Parish and Green Street Methodist. Jailed in 1945.
• 1944

  September 17. Church rededicated.
• 1944 - 1946

  Rev. Lewis Sanford, Interim. Minister Emeritus.
• 1946 - 1951

  September 22, 1946-May 27, 1951 Rev. Alfred Hendricksen
• 1951 - 1954

  Marvin Parmelee, Richmond, VA. Left for church in TX.
• 1954

  Community Exchange started in church by Louise and Matt Korol.
• 1955 - 1959

  Horace Colpitts. Ordained as a Baptist minister. From Eastport, ME, went to NJ.
• 1955 - 1959

  Voted to join the Unitarian Universalist Association when it formed in 1961.
• 1959

  Community Exchange moved from church basement to 33 South Chestnut St.
• 1960

  Voted to join the Unitarian Universalist Association when it formed in 1961.
• 1969 - 1979

  Rev. Larry Hamby
• 1977

  Roof fell in sanctuary. Sold building on State St. Moved to King St.
• 1979

  May 1979 Building dedicated
• 1983 - 1992

  Helen Zidowecki, Director of Religious Education
• 1984 - 1985

  Intern Catherine Vaughan
• 1985 - 1986

  January 1985-April 1986 No minister.
• 1986

  June Fire burned back of church
• 1986 - 2006

  April 1986-April 2006 Rev. Calvin Dame. From Monson, MA. Starr King School of Ministry
• 1987 - 1989

  Community Exchange changed from volunteer management by the Korols to a paid manager, then closed. Building sold in 1989.
• 1990

  Started 2 Sunday Services, renovations
• 1991

  Alternated buildings with Winthrop St.
• 1992

  Consolidation with Winthrop Street (Universalist) to form Unitarian Universalist Community Church