The history of our UU Church in Saint John links back to First Parish Old-Ship Church established in Hingham, Massachusetts in 1635. The Pilgrims who established that church were fleeing from religious persecution in England and placed a high value on religious freedom and a democratic approach to religion. About 230 years after the founding of that church, George Byron Cushing left that liberal congregation to come to Saint John as an American lumber baron, and played a major part in our history here.

From the mid 1800’s until 1911 American law permitted timber cut in Aroostook county Maine to be floated down the Saint John River and processed by Americans living in Saint John for duty free re-entry to the United States as finished lumber. This brought several American lumber barons to Saint John who came with their Unitarian religious ideas. Regular meetings were held in people’s homes. In 1862 a Unitarian service by a visiting minister attracted more than 300 people. But the First Unitarian Society of St. John was not officially organized until 1875. Part of the Church Bible’s face from that time is pictured below.

More History

The present congregation was organized in 1961 as the Unitarian Fellowship of Saint John and thrived until the mid-1980s. After a period of inactivity, the fellowship was revived and, in 1997, the present name of our church was adopted. The Bible is but one of many sources we use in our services today.

We draw from a wide variety of sources for guidance and inspiration in our individual spiritual development. In our worship services you will hear music, poetry and readings from any of the world’s religions or philosophies. Many topics of discussion arise from our own life experiences or the words, deeds and wisdom of noteworthy women and men throughout the ages.