Unitarians have been a part of Saint John since the
1850's when the New England " Unitarian lumber barons" moved
here. Some of our founding families grew up in the Old Ship
First Parish Church in Hingham, Ma. founded in 1635 near
Plymouth, MA. It was known as a liberal renaissance
congregation through much of the 1700's and that "spirit"
was carried to Saint John. Since the
1850's the Saint John Unitarian community has taken on
various forms depending on numbers. Early services were in
a castle and even a mission hall that the local Baptists had
given up on. In the late 1800's and early 1900's we had two
buildings, The Independent Presbyterian Church and the
Church of the Messiah. In the mid 1900's we operated
Unitarian House.
In spite of an exciting history Saint John's UU's
live very much in the present and with a view to the
future. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Saint John
calls home the Carleton Community Centre at Market Place
just off the west end of the Saint John Harbour Bridge.
Formal services are normally the second and fourth Sundays
monthly at 10:30am. The first Sunday is "Singing" Sunday and
the third, adult discussion Sunday. We offer children's
R.E. programs for preschoolers to about 13. Adult book
studies and such are scheduled frequently in members homes.
Our members are regular volunteers at a local soup kitchen
and other organizations.
The UUCSJ has a varied membership in both age and
perspective. With an active adult membership of forty plus,
we are very much alive and growing. Currently we are looking
for larger quarters.
