200 Years of Building Community and Advocating for Social Justice

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica (UU Utica)

Utica NY – August 21, 2025 – For two centuries, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica has stood as a beacon of community, compassion, and commitment to social justice—principles deeply rooted in both its founding and its ongoing mission. Today, UU Utica begins a three month celebration of its two hundred years in Utica.

Historical Foundations

Founded on November 21, 1825, UU Utica began with forty-two members, including five women—each granted full voting rights, a radical inclusion at a time when women’s suffrage was rare. This progressive vision was championed by the church’s first minister, Rev. John S. Thompson, an Irish-born, Scotland-educated clergyman.

Among the early congregation were notable figures such as Andrew S. Pond, who headed an iron foundry, and Esra Barnum, a boat supplier for the Erie Canal and a U.S. Marshal. Despite facing local opposition, the congregation persisted—purchasing land from Utica businessman Nicholas Devereux to build their first church at 4 Devereux Street.

During this formative period, members also established the Universalist Female Charitable Society, reflecting their early commitment to organized social support and community care.

A Legacy of Advocacy

From its earliest days, UU Utica has been active in movements for abolition andwomen’s rights. Ministers Dolphus Skinner and Aaron Grosh separately published magazines promoting equality. Grosh later became a founding member and first chaplain of The National Grange, and served as the first librarian of the USDA.

In 1926, the Universalist congregation invited local Unitarians to worship with them—35 years before the national merger of the Unitarian and Universalist churches in 1961. This spirit of unity and progress continued throughout the decades.

The church played a key role in advocating for family planning in Oneida County and helped establish a local Planned Parenthood chapter, inspired by Margaret Sanger’s success in Brooklyn. In times of controversy, UU Utica opened its doors to voices that others silenced, including Fr. Daniel Berrigan, a prominent anti-Vietnam War activist, and Alex Haley, author of Roots, who spoke on civil rights shortly after the release of his biography of Malcolm X in 1968.

Continuing the Work Today

UU Utica remains deeply engaged in social justice through a range of initiatives:

  • Social Justice Council: This dedicated body coordinates the church’s justice efforts, aligning them with Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) priorities and amplifying the voices of those who advocate for equity and inclusion.
  • LGBTQ+ Inclusion: A certified Welcoming Congregation, UU Utica embraces LGBTQ+ equality through its Inclusion Team, continuing a denomination-wide commitment that began in the 1970s.
  • Climate Action: The Climate Action Team leads environmental justice initiatives grounded in the UU principle of respect for the interconnected web of all life. The congregation recently enrolled as a Green Sanctuary 2030 candidate, an ambitious environmental and climate justice movement that seeks to live fully its principles and achieve its vision of a sustainable and just world for all.

Through this work, UU Utica remains steadfast in its mission: nurturing spiritual community, honoring diversity, and advocating for social justice.

Calendar of UU Utica’s Bicentennial Activities:

Join for Sunday Services: 10:30 AM at 10 Higby Road and online via Zoom
Learn more at www.uuutica.org.

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