| 1860 |
Rev. Isaac M. Westfall of Lafayette,
Indiana, preached the first Universalist sermon in
Olmsted County. |
| 1866-67 |
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.
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