Unitarian Universalism is a caring, open-minded religion that encourages seekers to follow their own spiritual paths. Our faith draws on many religious sources, welcoming people with different beliefs. Unitarian Universalism combines two traditions: the Universalists, who organized in 1793, and the Unitarians, who organized in 1825. They consolidated into the Unitarian Universalist Association in
1961. (Taken from http://www.uua.org/ ) The Utica Congregation was founded in 1825 and moved to their current location in 1978. More History: The very first Universalist congregation in our area was established by the Reverend Nathaniel Stacy in 1804 in with a building at the corner of Genesee Street and French Rd, one block from our current location. Many years later, a new church, seating 420 people, was built on Seneca Street in 1851. It was named The Church of the Reconciliation. By 1887, the church was famous nationally as “the church with the tree in the tower.” A mountain ash tree had taken root in a pocket of soil on the north tower and grown to forty feet tall. . In 1906, the congregaton laid the cornerstone of a new building on the corner of Genesee and Tracy Streets. In 1978, the congregation moved to its current meeting place at 10 Higby Road. The congregation helped build a new structure that was smaller but more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
