First Universalist Church (Rochester, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Universalist Church
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First Universalist Church, August 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | SE corner of S. Clinton Ave. and Court St., Rochester, New York |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1907-1908 |
| Architect | Bragdon, Claude Fayette |
| MPS | Inner Loop MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000545 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
The First Universalist Church is a historic and important church building in Rochester, New York. It is located at 150 S. Clinton Ave. Construction started in 1907, and the church was officially opened in 1908. This church is connected to the Unitarian Universalist Association. It is one of two Unitarian Universalist churches in Monroe County, New York. The other one is the First Unitarian Church of Rochester.
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What the Church Believes and Does
The First Universalist Church holds a worship service every Sunday. From March 2020 to November 2021, these services were held online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since November 2021, they have offered "hybrid" services. This means you can join online using Zoom or attend in person at the church building.
An Open and Welcoming Community
The church is known for being very diverse and welcoming to everyone. Their website explains that they do not have one strict set of beliefs. Instead, they follow "Seven Principles" that encourage people to search for truth and meaning in their own way. While Unitarianism and Universalism started as liberal Christian traditions, some members also follow teachings from other faiths. Others might have humanist beliefs or identify as atheists.
The church's main goal is "to nurture the spirit, and serve the community." This means they want to help people grow spiritually and also help those around them.
How the Church Helps People
First Universalist Church helps its members and the wider community through many active groups and teams. These groups include:
- The Board of Trustees (who help run the church)
- Caring Committee (they support members in need)
- Communications Committee (they share news)
- Finance Committee (they manage money)
- House Committee (they look after the building)
- Lifespan Faith Development (for learning about faith at all ages)
- Membership Committee (they welcome new members)
- Committee on Ministry (they support the ministers)
- Music Committee (they organize music for services)
- Nominating Committee (they help choose leaders)
- Personnel Committee (they manage staff)
- Faith In Action Council (FIAC) (they work on social justice)
- Social Justice Project Teams (also called "Social Justice Circles")
- Worship Committee (they plan services)
- COVID Task Force (they helped during the pandemic)
The church is also a Welcoming Congregation. This means they are officially recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association for being open and supportive of LGBTQ+ people.
The First Universalist Church keeps its community informed in several ways. They send out a small digital weekly email about church events. They also publish a monthly newsletter called "Our Outlook." This newsletter is available on their website and is also mailed out. You can find archives of these publications, along with past sermons and annual reports, on their website.
Supporting Community Action
In the summer of 2020, members of the First Universalist congregation showed their support for local Black Lives Matter protests. They helped before and after news became public about a local incident.
How the Church Helped Protesters
At first, the church set up a table with supplies for protesters. They also made their restrooms available for use. As the protests continued into the fall of 2020, First Universalist started hosting the Rochester Street Medic Collective.
The medics used the Clara Barton lounge area in the church building as their base. This area was near the parking lot. It was a place for them to store supplies and offer medical help when needed. Church members also continued to give out water, food, and other supplies to both protesters and medics.
Church Building Design
The First Universalist Church was designed by a famous Rochester architect named Claude Fayette Bragdon. It is built in the Romanesque Revival style. This style often uses round arches and strong, heavy features.
Key Features of the Building
The church is made of brick, with stone and ceramic tile details. It has a tall central tower and a lantern (a small structure on top) with pointed, pyramid-shaped roofs. Experts from the Library of Congress have described the building's design as "Unified in concept, harmonious in proportions and color." This means the building's parts work well together, and its colors and sizes are pleasing. They also noted that most of the building still looks the same as it did when it was first built.
The First Universalist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 27, 1971. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Little Free Library
First Universalist Church has a Little Free Library outside. This is a small box where people can take books, clothes, and other items for free, or leave things for others. It's a way for the community to share resources.
In the summer of 2019, the roof of the Little Free Library was damaged. But it was fixed up quickly! By September 2019, it had new shingles, was rebuilt, and put back in place.
Special Organ
The First Universalist Church of Rochester is home to a very special organ. It's a Hope-Jones organ that has been fully preserved. These organs are quite rare today. People have described its sound as "weighty and lush," with deep, rich tones.
Images for kids
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Auditorium view towards west
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Hall and stairs inside north entrance
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Auditorium view towards organ
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West (front) elevation
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Detail of west elevation
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North (side) elevation from northeast
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East (rear) elevation
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Little Free Library, right side
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Little Free Library repair work
