OUR HISTORY
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango was granted a charter by the Unitarian Universalist Association in September, 1967. There were fifteen members at that time.
Initially the group met once or twice a month in a members' home. In 1982, the Fellowship acquired a house on East Third Ave, which for 17 years was
known as the Unitarian House. The Fellowship continued to rent the meeting room for services after the building was sold in 1990. By then, attendance and membership averaged 20 to 25 persons, and guest ministers were often invited to speak.
In 1999, the Fellowship moved to classroom 16 of the Smiley Building, which allowed room for growth. Our Religious Education program attracted young parents, and a part- time RE Director was hired. In 2004, UUA President, the Rev. Dr. William Sinkford, preached a special mid-summer Sunday service in the Smiley Auditorium to an estimated 200 people from the Four-Corners area. By the fall of 2006, membership stood at 73, with RE attendance often more than 20. The need for more space became obvious and an Ad Hoc committee was formed to search out meeting space possibilities.
After two months of hard work the committee had found little to offer and was growing discouraged when one of the members discovered that an existing church structure might be available. The Nazarene Church was building a new facility, and their property at the corner of Columbine Avenue and San Juan Drive was for sale. The cost, however, would be daunting for a small group that had not even discussed the possibility of ownership. To the great good fortune of the Fellowship, an interim purchaser bought the property and rented it to the Fellowship until the Congregation approved the purchase and funding could be arranged. Our first service in the new building was held on New Years Eve, 2006.
We are now an active, energetic congregation of over 100 members. We have four part-time paid employees, but the majority of the work required to maintain and improve our facilities, and provide for the growth and care of our Fellowship, is done by volunteers. There are many opportunities for each person to participate in the life of our congregation, and continue the tradition of service established by our founders.
The original Unitarian House sign hangs on Bowman Hall, named in honor of Frank Bowman, the first person to sign the UUFD Membership book in 1967.
Updated August 2013
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango was granted a charter by the Unitarian Universalist Association in September, 1967. There were fifteen members at that time.
Initially the group met once or twice a month in a members' home. In 1982, the Fellowship acquired a house on East Third Ave, which for 17 years was
known as the Unitarian House. The Fellowship continued to rent the meeting room for services after the building was sold in 1990. By then, attendance and membership averaged 20 to 25 persons, and guest ministers were often invited to speak.
In 1999, the Fellowship moved to classroom 16 of the Smiley Building, which allowed room for growth. Our Religious Education program attracted young parents, and a part- time RE Director was hired. In 2004, UUA President, the Rev. Dr. William Sinkford, preached a special mid-summer Sunday service in the Smiley Auditorium to an estimated 200 people from the Four-Corners area. By the fall of 2006, membership stood at 73, with RE attendance often more than 20. The need for more space became obvious and an Ad Hoc committee was formed to search out meeting space possibilities.
After two months of hard work the committee had found little to offer and was growing discouraged when one of the members discovered that an existing church structure might be available. The Nazarene Church was building a new facility, and their property at the corner of Columbine Avenue and San Juan Drive was for sale. The cost, however, would be daunting for a small group that had not even discussed the possibility of ownership. To the great good fortune of the Fellowship, an interim purchaser bought the property and rented it to the Fellowship until the Congregation approved the purchase and funding could be arranged. Our first service in the new building was held on New Years Eve, 2006.
We are now an active, energetic congregation of over 100 members. We have four part-time paid employees, but the majority of the work required to maintain and improve our facilities, and provide for the growth and care of our Fellowship, is done by volunteers. There are many opportunities for each person to participate in the life of our congregation, and continue the tradition of service established by our founders.
The original Unitarian House sign hangs on Bowman Hall, named in honor of Frank Bowman, the first person to sign the UUFD Membership book in 1967.
Updated August 2013