Even having a hundred year history to tell about would not be possible if it weren't for the laity who truly are the church. Even if we chose to tell about only the active people in this Church, there would be too many to even begin to identify, and this is as it should be.

Church Beginnings: The Larger Context

On September 16, 1892, the First Unitarian Parish of Youngstown was officially born.

Among the pioneers of the early steel industry, the founders of Youngstown sheet and Tube company brought over some English engineers and others to organize the mills. specifically, among these immigrants were some Unitarians. this is part of the cast for the story of our Church's beginnings.

Add the influence of Joseph Priestly and English Unitarianism in western Pennsylvania, of which one result was the 1844 founding of Meadville Theological Seminary. These along with other influences, contributed to Youngstown playing an important role in what was then know as the Western conference - the fastest growing section of the American Unitarian Association. (Our denomination was the AUA before the merger with the Universalists in 1961.

Close ties existed with the Meadville Theological Seminary from the founding of the Youngstown Church in 1892, until the seminary moved to Chicago in 1926. It should surprise no one that the theological, political, and ego issues involving leaders in Meadville, the Western Conference, and the AUA were mirrored here at the local church.

Though we cannot here go further into the larger history of the denomination, the 1970's were rough times, not only for this church, ut the denomination as well, even after the increase from the merger of the Unitarians with the Universalists in 1961. One crucial factor in this slump was the interplay of money and the black power issue that divided the 1968 UUA General Assembly in Cleveland.

Local Struggles:

Turning directly to developments here in Youngstown, it is clear that owing money has been a significant part of our history. Ever since our founding, we have had to seek subsidies, not only from the AUA and the old Western Conference, but later the UUA. As far as anyone knows, at no time have we been out of debt to Boston. this has demanded, as a consequence, the almost continual attention for all our Boards of Trustees throughout this century.

Those dedicated, sturdy Youngstown Unitarians finally found the wherewithal by August 28, 1904 to re-organize, this time as the First Unitarian Church of Youngstown. With the inspiration and help of the Reverend Leo Harvey of the Erie Church, the Youngstown group began meeting at a place known as the "Bissell block" on West Federal Street. There the church remained until October, 1906, when they moved meetings to Rodef Sholem Temple on Lincoln Avenue.

In April of 1909 the AUA provided a portable church that was set up at Elm and Bissell streets. finally, in 1925 the present church was built at Elm and Illinois. The AUA then moved the portable church to another site. On rumor is that it is still in use by another church somewhere in the Youngstown area.

Growing Pains:

Over the century of this Church's existence there have been periods of struggle when people simply had to hang on . Rarely, however, was there even a hint of despair. There have also been times of growth, energy, and optimism. One such growth period was during the second decade of this century. Accurate Church membership figures are like quicksilver and just as hard to capture. Approximate figures, though, show an increase from around 70 members in 1910 to a bit over 100 members by 1920.

There is reason to suspect much of the growth came from people with young children. Before 1910, church records are silent on the subject of Sunday School. In April of 1913, the Ladies Alliance voted to establish a school for working girls in the neighborhood. A group of young people in the church decided to organize an Emerson Club. A year later, records show first indications of a need for a permanent building.

A Permanent Building At Last:

During the 1920's much energy went into raising money, especially for the project of erecting a permanent church building. finally, the cornerstone for the present structure was laid on Monday, April 27, 1925. The architect wad Barton E. Brooke, a member of this church. He modeled the building after the Second Unitarian church of Boston, which was built in the style of the famous English architect, Christopher Wren.

One issue in the building of the church was whether a steeple could be built. After all, so it was argued, not one had built one in fifty years, so steeple building must be a dead art. And would one stay on that windy hill? Though seemingly impossible, the job was done anyway.

Not surprisingly, ministers have played a central role in the history of this church. Yet over the past decade we have begun to learn a valuable lesson: "Ministers do not a church make."

It may be true we are a church whose memory is too much with us. Let us acknowledge this past, embrace it, mourn it, and then let it go.

We are a congregation that has survived, not only times of growth and optimism, but also intervals of pain, despair and loss. We have shown we are not only survivors, but committed, resilient, and hopeful. What a legacy with which to begin our second century here in Youngstown.