OUR HISTORY

Our Church

The roots of our congregation started with John Murray's establishing Universalism in America in Gloucester, MA in 1779.  In 1807, Rockport members of the Gloucester church began holding services in a local school until 1829, when our current church was built.  When the Rockport and Gloucester congregations officially separated in 1845, we established our name as The First Universalist Society of Rockport.  In 1867, we added our historic 93 foot steeple to the building.  The 1950's and 1980's saw major growth, and a Vestry, kitchen, Friendship Room, and classrooms were built along with moving our organ from the upper level to the sanctuary.  In 1961, we added "Unitarian" to our name.  Our church is a member of Unitarian Universalist Association.

Involvement in social issues has always been important in our church history.  In 1843, we prepared resolutions against slavery, intemperance, and war.  In 1861, during an anti-slavery lecture by a noted abolitionist, a smoking bomb was thrown through a window into our sanctuary.  The crowd was evacuated, but later returned to hear the rest of the talk.  In 1884, our Society hired its first woman pastor, Lorenza Haynes, past Chaplain to The Maine Senate and House.  We have continued a tradition of respect for both genders by ordaining three more women into the ministry between 1975 and 1991.  In the 1960's many members were involved in the anti-war and civil rights movements.  In the 1980's we were very active in the anti-nuclear movement and in opposition to USA policies in Central America.  In the 1990's and through the present time, we supported ecological awareness and responsible sustainability, Gay and Lesbian rights, and have sponsored Rockport's annual Martin Luther King Day Commemorations, Peace Day Festivals and New Years Eve Peace Services.