1855
Unitarian Church
Unitarians were among the first settlers in Lawrence in the summer of 1854, arriving with others from Massachusetts under auspices of the Emigrant Aid Company, created to assist settling the new Kansas Territory with Free State supporters. In the first months, Unitarians joined other religious denominations in holding joint services.
In 1855, the Rev. Ephraim Nute arrived to serve as the first Unitarian minister in Lawrence. His first sermon was on Mount Oread on May 27, 1855. Reverend Nute was instrumental in starting the construction of the first church building in Lawrence in March, 1856, on a site which is now 933 Ohio St. (there is a historical marker at that location). The first service in the church was in March 1857, but the building was not completed until 1859, when the clock and the bell were placed in the church tower. Among the founding members were Kansas Governor and Mrs. Charles Robinson, and the first Mayor of Lawrence, Col. James Blood.
The church served in many ways as a community center in those early years. The church basement was outfitted to be a school and provided a locale for the city’s first schools, and later for overflow classes from the University. When the church building was severely damaged by natural disasters, it became unusable and a new church building was erected at what is now 12th and Vermont Sts. The bell from the first church was sold to the local school system and today is ensconced in a place of honor in the entrance to the Lawrence High School building at 19th and Louisiana Sts.
The second Unitarian church served the community until 1944, when the organization disbanded. This property ultimately was purchased by and became part of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Vermont Street.
In 1957, a new Unitarian organization formed in Lawrence: the Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence. In 1961, the Unitarian Fellowship purchased the former Pleasant Valley School building on 1263 North 1100 Rd., five miles south of central Lawrence. A religious education facility was soon added to the original school building. At the time of this writing, the Fellowship is celebrating its 50th anniversary at that location and is building a new addition to the south to serve its growing congregation.
The Fellowship is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, which espouses liberal religious values, the free search for spiritual truth and working to achieve social justice. It had been completely lay-led until part-time ministerial services were introduced in 2005.
The Fellowship is proud to be carrying on the legacy of Unitarianism in Lawrence.
Step Sponsored By: Unitarian Church