History

The First Unitarian Church of Sioux City, Iowa was organized March 11, 1885. On September 1, 1885, Rev. Mary A. Safford became Sioux City's first Unitarian pastor with her close friend Miss Eleanor Gordon, acting as assistant and later as Associate Minister.

In May, 1887 a lot was purchased on the corner of 10th and Douglas, and a church was built there and dedicated on May 5, 1889. It was generally referred to at that time as Unity Church, although it was incorporated as the First Unitarian.

This church was destroyed by fire "of unknown origin" on July 29, 1947.

Thanks to the generosity of Jewish friends, services were held in the Jewish Community Center until the summer of 1948.

At this time the Rev. John W. Bringham was the minister, and he continued with book reviews, Bible classes, discussion groups, youth group meetings, as well as a popular 15 minute Sunday morning radio program throughout this difficult period.

There was not enough money to rebuild, so the Orcutt residence at 17th and Grandview was purchased and services were held there until the present church at 2508 Jackson Street was built and dedicated on January 26, 1955.

One stain glass window (pictured) had been salvaged from the burned church and was given a place of honor in the northeast corner and used by the architect R.D. Hecker as the dominant feature in the decor.

In 1985, the 100 year anniversary was celebrated and the minister at that time, Jay Atkinson, wrote, in part:

"Unitarian Universalism remains in 1985 still widely misunderstood in Sioux City as it is across our continent, and unknown to many who would welcome the religious freedom and intellectual integrity which our tradition has to offer.

We begin our second century with a strong base from which to proclaim the values of that religious tradition to a waiting world."

Ministers of the First Unitarian Church:

Mary A. Safford: 1885--1899

Eleanor E. Gordon (Associate): 1885--1896

Marie Jenney (Associate): 1896--1899

Walter S. Vail: 1899--1901

J.D.O. Powers: 1901--1907

Manley B. Townsend: 1908--1912

R.D. Van Tassel: 1912--1917

Charles E. Snyder: 1917--1931

Gordon Kent: 1931--1933

James S. Dahir & Rev. Elizabeth Dahir: 1933--1936

Henry J. Adlard: 1936

Henry Clark: 1937--1941

Daniel Sands: 1942--1943

Francis Ruland: 1943--1946

John W. Brigham: 1946--1956

Roger Bosworth (unofficial): 1956

Carl H. Whittier, Jr.: 1956--1960

Rexford J. Styzens: 1961--1964

Phillip A. Silk: 1964--1966

John Kolbjornsen: 1968--1975

Michael A. Schuler: 1976--1979

Jay Atkinson: 1979--1986

Penelope Binger: 1986--1996

Sarah Voss (consulting minister) 1999--2004

  This window was   removed from the   Church located at

10th and Douglas

after it burned, and was installed at the

present church at

2508 Jackson Street.