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History Of The First Universalist Church
Of West Chesterfield

The first Universalist Church of West Chesterfield has
been a part of West Chesterfield history for over 200
years. It was first organized around 1798, possibly
earlier. Throughout its history
the church has had between 30
and 60 members from the
community and surrounding
area. In the beginning, church
members met in private
homes or school houses, but by 1830 membership of the
church had grown and the members were able to
buildthe church building that stands today with funds
raised from the sale of family pews. Oran Randall wrote
in his History of Chesterfield that people from other
faiths also bought pews in the agreement that they may
hold services in the church building as well.

The building remains essentially unchanged from it’s
original state. The building is simple. The Greek revival
style and the open, spacious interior lends itself as well
today as it did in 1830. When built, it had pew boxes with
doors and a wood stove near the center of the sanctuary.
Throughout its history the church has been largely led
by lay members of the congregation. In March of 1800
the members voted to began hiring ministers part-time,
yet the church remains “uniquely led by its faithful
members” (History of Chesterfield, 1888).

Today the church has approximately 25 registered
members with a small number of devoted people that
attend and hold services every Sunday from Easter
through Christmas at 10am.

-Information provided by Mary Maxwell
and the Chesterfield Historical Society

Who we are.

-We are a small, accepting, community
church who encourage individuals to
honor the presence of the divine in his or
her own life.

-Because of our own Judeo-Christian
heritage, it has seemed appropriate to
make teachings of Jesus our primary
guide, while recognizing that their are
other guides as valid and to love and
learn from people of other religions and
backgrounds.

-We encourage people to reflect on their
own beliefs and actions and to accept
responsibility for their own spiritual
growth.

-We believe that God works through
individuals as well as congregations. We
must become a servant of the good of the
greater community.

-We believe that there is a strength in
coming together to worship, to work, and
to strive, that cannot be found alone.
through worship and work together we
find guidance and support in our
individual lives. We unite by giving of
ourselves to tasks we choose together.

What is A Unitarian
Universalist?

"With its historical roots in the Jewish
and Christian traditions, Unitarian
Universalism is a liberal religion -- that
is, a religion that keeps an open mind to
the religious questions people have
struggled with in all times and places.
We believe that personal experience,
conscience and reason should be the
final authorities in religion, and that in
the end religious authority lies not in a
book or person or institution, but in
ourselves. We are a "non-creedal"
religion: we do not ask anyone to
subscribe to a creed.

Our congregations are self-governing.
Authority and responsibility are vested
in the membership of the congregation.
Each Unitarian Universalist
congregation is involved in many kinds
of programs. Worship is held regularly,
the insights of the past and the present
are shared with those who will create the
future, service to the community is
undertaken, and friendships are made. A
visitor to a UU congregation will very
likely find events and activities such as
church school, day-care centers, lectures
and forums, support groups, poetry
festivals, family events, adult education
classes and study groups".

-Unitarian Universalist Association

The Principles of the Unitarian
Universalist Association

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian
Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to
spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic
process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty and
justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of
which we are a part.
The living tradition which we share draws from many
sources:
Direct experience of that transcending mystery and
wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a
renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which
create and uphold life;
Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which
challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil
with justice, compassion and the transforming power of
love;
Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in
our ethical and spiritual life;
Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond
to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the
guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us
against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which
celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in
harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and
ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our
understanding and expand our vision. As free
congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to
one another our mutual trust and support.

Courtesy of
The Unitarian Universalist Association