First Unitarian Society of Madison facts for kids
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First Unitarian Society Meeting House
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First Unitarian Meeting House
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 900 University Bay Dr., Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1949–1951 |
| Architect | Frank Lloyd Wright; Marshall Erdman |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000076 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 11, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | August 18, 2004 |
The First Unitarian Society of Madison (often called FUS) is a special church group in Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin. It is part of the Unitarian Universalist faith. Its main building, called a meeting house, was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It was built between 1949 and 1951 by Marshall Erdman. This building is so important that it's been named a U.S. National Historic Landmark because of its amazing design. With over 1,000 members, it is one of the biggest Unitarian Universalist groups in the United States.
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What Unitarian Universalists Believe
The First Unitarian Society of Madison is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association. This group believes in the Seven Principles and Six Sources. These are like guiding ideas for how they live and act.
The Society also follows a special promise they made when they started in 1879. They call it the "Continuing Bond of Union." It says they want a religious group that focuses on living with honesty and letting people think freely. They welcome everyone, no matter their beliefs, background, or who they love.
A Look at History
The First Unitarian Society of Madison started in 1879. This happened after a meeting in 1878 helped Unitarian groups grow in Madison. An important Unitarian minister named Reverend Jenkin Lloyd Jones (who was also Frank Lloyd Wright's uncle) had a big influence. Early members believed that being good and ethical was more important than having the same exact religious ideas.
The Reverend Henry M. Simmons was the first minister, but he left after two years. Then, Reverend Joseph Henry Crooker became the minister. He helped the group build their first church in 1885. It was designed by Peabody and Stearns from Boston. During his time, the Sunday School grew a lot. They also started other groups like the Women's Alliance and clubs for university students and discussing current topics.
By 1910, there were 105 families or individuals who supported the church. But by 1940, this number dropped to 48. In 1941, Reverend Kenneth Patton became the minister, and the group's membership almost doubled in just a few years.
In 1945, the Society decided to sell their first church building. It was in downtown Madison, and they got a good offer for it. The next year, after a lot of discussion, they asked Frank Lloyd Wright to design a new Meeting House. They bought four acres of land in Shorewood Hills for the new building. This land was mostly empty and looked out over the University of Wisconsin's farm fields. The new building opened in 1951. Today, the University of Wisconsin hospital and a busy road are around the Meeting House.
Reverend Max D. Gaebler was the minister for 35 years. In 1988, Reverend Michael A. Schuler took over and retired in 2018 after 30 years. Under both of these ministers, the Society grew a lot. Today, it has over 1,500 members. In 2008, a new Atrium addition was built. It was designed to be very energy-efficient, earning a gold-level LEED certification.
In 2021, the group decided to change how they lead the church. Instead of one main leader, they chose a "shared ministry" model. This means that all parts of the church's work are equally important. In May 2021, Reverend Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson joined Reverend Kelly J. Crocker. They now both serve as Co-Senior Ministers.
Shaarei Shamayim Congregation
Since 2008, another religious group called Shaarei Shamayim has shared the building. This group practices Reconstructionist Judaism.
The Unique Architecture
The First Unitarian Society is located in its historic Meeting House. This building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, who was actually a member of the church. His parents were also among its founders. Wright was asked to design the Meeting House in 1946. The building's dramatic shape has been seen in different ways. Some say it looks like the front of a ship, others a plow cutting through the land, and some even see hands folded in prayer.
Building started in 1949 and finished in 1951. Wright first thought it would cost about $60,000 to build. But it ended up costing three times that much! To save money, members of the church helped by moving heavy limestone blocks for the walls. The church's main part, called the "upper meeting house," has a roof shaped like a ship's prow. It's covered with blue-green copper. The roof is held up by a clever system of hinged arches. These arches allow for a wide open space inside, about 64 feet (20 m) across, without any support columns getting in the way.
This church building is known as one of the most creative examples of church architecture. In 1960, the American Institute of Architects chose it as one of 17 buildings to show Wright's important work in American culture. The Meeting House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This was unusual because buildings usually have to be 50 years old to be added. In 2004, it was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service.
More parts were added to the building in 1965 and 1990. These were designed by Taliesin Associated Architects. A big new expansion was finished in 2008, designed by Kubala Washatko Architects. This added a second large room that can seat 500 people, plus other community spaces. The original historic building also had many repairs and restoration work done. The new additions were built carefully so they would not change the historic parts of the property.
Wright designed the building using many triangles. After it was built, he wrote: "The square means honesty, and the circle means everything. The triangle stands for reaching higher. This church is like the whole building is in a prayer position."
In the early 1970s, a group called "Friends of the Meeting House" was formed. Their job is to help take care of and preserve the building. This group is a non-profit organization. Its goals are to teach people about the building, help with preservation projects, and speak up for keeping the building's special features safe.
The Friends of the Meeting House has its own website. It shares a lot about the building's history: Friends of the Meeting House, Inc.
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See also
- List of Frank Lloyd Wright works
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Dane County, Wisconsin
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin
