History of the Unitarian Society of Germantown

 USG Timeline

The Unitarian Society of Germantown was founded in 1865. Never blessed with any divine charter or blueprint, the members have always had to rely on their own individual and collective capacity for self-generation or self-renewal.

Early Unitarianism in Philadelphia was inspired by English Unitarianism, embodied in teachings brought to these shores by the Rev. Dr. Joseph Priestley. Dr. Priestley's religious ideas took root in the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia in 1796. Historically Unitarianism incorporated the ideas of God as one (Unity) and Jesus as great prophet and teacher. Many members of the new congregation in Germantown had been members of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.

From 1865 to 1871, our founders braved an unwelcoming community climate to gather a new congregation. Our first minister had difficulty finding a place to live because of this. However, the church gained strength in the years up to 1883. A church building was constructed in 1867 at the corner of Greene and Chelten. We pioneered in community help with the Germantown Relief Society. The Sunday School was formed and grew, and today's Women's Alliance took shape first as the Samuel Longfellow Alliance. The period from 1884 to 1916 was one of marking time. Still surviving from that age, remarkably, is the Nicetown Club for Boys and Girls, first conceived of by our minister, the Reverend Oscar Hawes in 1902.

A resurgence followed in the years from 1917 to 1935 when the enthusiasm generated brought members in such numbers as to require a new church building. This was constructed at 6511 Lincoln Drive and was dedicated in 1928. Included in the new building were several stained glass windows from the former building. Three lancets, once separate windows, were placed together as Clark Window I on the east transept wall. The Clark Window II graces our south transept wall. Many successful programs flourished, but the notable survivor today is the Unitarian Universalist House, our home for senior citizens, now greatly expanded from the original Joseph Priestley House. This warm urban retirement community is non-sectarian. It is supported by all the UU churches in the Delaware Valley. Unitarian Universalist ministers in the Delaware Valley provide Vespers Services.

The Ecumenical Pulpit era from 1936 to 1964, with a ministerial stewardship, was a remarkable period that brought some of the most highly respected theologians, philosophers and thinkers to visit with us on Sunday mornings. The congregation involved itself in humanitarian efforts related to World War II, and the church became the center for Red Cross work for the Germantown/Mt. Airy section. It bought and rehabilitated 6503 Lincoln Drive as a total Religious Education building [since sold], and created the Austin Youth Lodge out of a caved-in stable. It put a specially designed tracker organ in the balcony, established a church pension plan and built a badly needed parking lot. It grew past the 800 mark and withdrew from the Philadelphia Council of Churches because of a newly imposed creedal test.

The 1965 Centennial Celebration of the Society's existence was a high point of reaffirmation and rededication to liberal religion. The publication of an updated church history was a significant aspect of the celebration. The years from 1965 on may be seen as a time of reformulation and redefinition. There has been constant ministerial leadership with growing emphasis on denominational identification. The Religious Education program for young people has continued to provide development and meaning in an exciting and rewarding church school curriculum. A network of committees has been staffed with on-going volunteer support for many activities. These have ranged widely, including adult education, social events, potluck suppers, membership receptions, leadership conferences, support for selected community projects, social and political awareness through legislative letter-writing tables, fairs, auctions and other fund-raising projects, and a book table and circulating library.

Some of the Society programs and social events have been internal; others have been oriented toward community outreach. The Society is a member of the Northwest Interfaith Movement (NIM). The Society has adopted a neighborhood school (Lingelbach) and participates in the Northwest Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (NPIHN), an interfaith program that provides shelter, support, and encouragement for homeless families. The Society is a host-church for NPIHN and a member of the Interfaith Coalition for the General Welfare. The Society has also emphasized environmental education in its social action. In an effort to become more inclusive, the Board of Trustees established the Welcoming Congregation. Its Social Action Committee has a continuing emphasis on racial justice and multicultural concerns.

In April of 1978, the congregation celebrated the present church building's Golden Anniversary. A meaningful portion of the ceremonies included the deposit of mementos and messages in a time chamber that was later embedded in the chancel floor, to be opened in the year 2028.

The Unitarian Society of Germantown provides an ideal place for people with a variety of experiences and backgrounds to come together confidently to examine what each has to offer in the search for self and larger meaning. It continues to be a place for love and fellowship, a place for understanding and tolerance for human frailty, a place for growing and improving inwardly, and for living our faith in the surrounding community and world.

1865
Unitarian Society of Germantown founded.  Meets in “Langstroth Hall”
upper floor of building on NW corner of Germantown and Chelten Avenues
Lincoln assassinated
Civil War ends
13th Amendment to the Constitution abolishes slavery

1867
New church building dedicated Chelten Ave & Greene St.  Designed by Frank Furness, son of Rev. Dr. William H. Furness of First Unitarian,Philadelphia.
English explorer David Livingstone explores the Congo
Paris World’s Fair introduces Japanese art to the West

1872
USG Minister Ames begins Germantown Relief Society, one of first movements of organized charity in the U.S.  Pastor Ames also begins “outreach” of Sunday night lectures at Spring Garden Institute
General Amnesty Act pardons most ex-Confederates

1873
Abolition of slave markets in Zanzibar

1878-1882
USG minister is Samuel Longfellow, brother of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  Chapel adjoining main church built.  $3,000 given to assist new Spring Garden Church, an outgrowth of Ames’ Sunday night lectures.

1882
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow dies; Pastor Samuel Longfellow leaves to write his brother’s biography).
Ralph Waldo Emerson dies

1903
Parsonage purchased at 5226 Greene Street.
Emmeline Pankhurst establishes the National Women’s Social and Political Union 

1904
Nicetown Club for Boys (and Girls) endowed  by E. W. Clark
Theodore Roosevelt elected President
10-hour work day established in France

1915-1917
Pulpit gapped.  Attendance drops to 30-40 people/Sunday

1915-1918
World War I; 8.5 million casualties
Woodrow Wilson proposes 14 points for World Peace
Margaret Sanger jailed for “Family Limitation,” the first book on birth control
Women over 30 get the vote in England

1920 - 1922
“Laymen’s League” established.  Holds Sunday evening programs to promote the Unitarian faith.  Six public meetings at Garrick Theatre, downtown.  At th Allegheny Theatre in Kensington; Pennsylvania Governor Pinchot leads the meeting; 3,000 attend.

1920
League of Nations established; U.S. Senate votes against joining
19th Amendment gives women the vote.

1921-1922
At the evening programs at the Colonial Theatre in Germantown, The Reverend William Sullivan speaks; 2,000 attend

1923
USG adopts Unitarian church in Transylvania
First birth control clinic opened in NYC
Chaim Weizmann named President of Zionist World Organization

1928
New Church dedicated
Herbert Hoover elected
Amelia Earhart crosses Atlantic

1929
William Sullivan installed as minister.  Adjoining lot purchased
Black Friday on Stock Market
Arab/Jewish altercation over Wailing Wall
The term “apartheid” used for the first time

1933
Sullivan begins series of Sunday night lectures on civilization, religion and politics
Joseph Priestley House opens at Tulpehocken & Greene with 5 guests
Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor
Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor, first female cabinet member
C.G. Jung publishes “Modern Man in Search of a Soul”

1933-39
60,000 German artists emigrate from Germany

1935-36
William Sullivan dies.  Sullivan Chapel memorial begun

1935
FDR signs the Social Security Act
Alcoholics Anonymous begun

1937
The Library of Pastor Sullivan given to the Church and its maintenance endowed

1938
A regular pulpit supply plan put into place.
Japan invades China
U.S. recalls its Ambassador to Germany

1942
Guest Minister Plan (The Ecumenical Pulpit) established.
The U.S. engaged in WWII
Enrico Fermi splits the Atom
Gandhi demands independencefor India; is arrested

1945
Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima

1945 - 1949
FEED EUROPE NOW.  USG gathers money, clothing, food, medicines and sponsors families.

1946 - 49
USG’s Applied Christianity Committee protests:release time from public school for religious studies and the inadequacy and inequality of Germantown Y facilities.  Establishes permanent Committee on Civil Rights.  Continues support of Nicetown B&G Club

1948
Gandhi assassinated

1949
USG membership at 700.  Church school overflowing; buy Plumer tract.  Church resolves to explore Unitarian-Universalist union
Israel admitted to UN
Paul Tillich publishes “The Shaking of the Foundations”
Berlin airlift ends

1950 - 51
North Korean forces invade South Korea
Britain recognizes Israel
U.S. recognizes Vietnam; supplies arms; signs military assistance pact with France, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam
Dr. Ralph Bunche wins Nobel Peace Prize

1951
“House on the Hill” converted to church school.  Sunday School director, Margaret Odell, engaged.  Parent Newsletter begun.  Killough Parcel acquired; access to Johnson Street

1952
Buy and restore 6515 Lincoln Drive; average pledge:  1.1 - 1.9% family income.
Anti-British riots in Egypt
16,000 people escape from East to West Germany in month of August

1954
Stable converted to Austin Youth Lodge.  Membership:  805;Annual Budget:  $50,000; Endowment:  $309,000
The Church Community Relations Council of Germantown established to welcome people of all races to full community participation  USG, Church of the Epiphany, and Jewish Community Center founding members

1956
George Nitsche Collection on Unitariana given to USG
Branch of Unitarian Fellowship for Social Justice established at USG
Hungarian uprising

1956-58
Relief for Hungarian refugees 30 individuals sponsored in relocation

1958
Philadelphia Council of Churches imposes Trinitarian test for voting membership; USG refuses “taxation without franchise” and resigns.
Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus defies Supreme Court order to integrate schools
European Common Market begun

1960
Unitarian and Universalist Churches merge

1961
Study on the quality of membership life.  Establish Revolving Credit Plan to use endowment to help establish new churches
Joseph Priestley District established with 13 member churches to train leadership and promote cooperation.
JFK inaugurated
Eichmann found guilty

1962
Publication of meditations and prayers of William Sullivan, “The Flaming Spirit,” Max Daskam, Editor
UUA Study: “The Free Church in a Changing World”

1. The Church and Leadership
2. Theology and the Frontiers of Learning
3. Education and Liberal Religion
4. Religion and the Arts
5. Ethics and Social Action
6. World Religion and Outreach

1964
New organ dedicated
Nobel Peace Prize for Martin Luther King
World’s Fair in NYC
Jack Ruby found guilty of killing Lee Harvey Oswald

1965
David Boynton Parke called as minister; effective end of Ecumenical Pulpit.  Nursing wing added to Joseph Priestley house as joint project of Joseph Priestly District
USG celebrates Centennial
LBJ inaugurated
Winston Churchill dies
Malcolm X shot