The Beginning

University Unitarian Church was established in 1913, after the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exhibition encouraged expansion at the University of Washington. Families moving north to a new neighborhood found travel to the downtown Seattle church—mostly on unpaved roads—too difficult. This new congregation met for Sunday services in a rented hall.

Seattle was young, and times were almost unimaginably different. Consider, for instance, that UUC – like so many public places – closed all its functions for two months during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918.

But the challenges, aspirations, and accomplishments of the congregation then were remarkably like our own today: fundraising, rapid growth, and space issues. Take this familiar story - During the first congregational banquet, there were 80 reservations and 102 served.

UUC continues its long and interesting history as a spiritual home in Seattle. Follow the link below or select from the chapters at the right to read more about the early, middle and later years at University Unitarian Church.