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Established 1891
Organized on February 24, 1891 with 187 signatures affixed to
their constitution, the First Unitarian Church enjoyed an unusual measure of
prestige from its very beginning.
When Samuel A. Eliot, Unitarian minister in Denver, arrived on
the local scene November 30, 1890 to speak at the Salt Lake Theater, 300 persons
turned out to hear him and Salt Lake’s introduction to Unitarianism began.
A permanent organization soon followed. Dr. David Utter, a Harvard graduate, was
engaged as the first minister. The Ladies’ Unitarian Society and Sunday School
were organized during that first year. Meetings continued to be held in the Salt
Lake Dramatic Association for $20 each Sunday.
At their first annual meeting in January 1892, The First Unitarian Society was
in a good enough financial position to begin a discussion of a new building.
However, the Panic of 1893 had a devastating effect upon the society. Many early
adherents returned to the East leaving the infant organization to struggle for
its very existence. Dr. Utter found it necessary to accept a teaching position
to make a living for his family.
Other ministers followed. It was not until January 1903 that events set in
motion by Reverend William H. Fish, Jr. culminated in the dedication of Unity Hall
(138 South 200 East) on Christmas Day,1904. This was the first permanent home
for the Society.
Unity Hall was built with an eye to its utility as a rental hall for other
organizations. When this property was sold in 1926, it was possible for the
Society to purchase the lot at 600 South and 1300 East. Salck Winburn, local
architect, was engaged to work with Boston architects to design a suitable
Unitarian church building, ”…in the best tradition of early Americans
architecture…”, was dedicated September 4,1927.
Through the years of World War II, Eliot Hall (social hall adjourning the
chapel) was converted into a nursery school for children of working mothers.
Enlargement of Eliot Hall and the addition of Sunday school rooms began April
1960 and was completed in 1966. Various community meetings rented the fledging
Salt Lake Acting Company.
Again, growth of membership created the need for additional space in the late
1980’s. After many meetings in the areas of financing and construction, a new
two-story brick building began with ground-breaking ceremony May 17, 1992;
dedication was held on Sept. 12,1993. the addition, with a connecting door on
the east wall of Eliot Hall, contains a small chapel and 14 new classrooms. This
not only helps our religious education programs, it enables the Community
Cooperative Nursery school to continue its long affiliation with the First
Unitarian Church because they too have enjoyed growth.
Meeting Places Since 1891
| Salt Lake Theater |
1881 - 1894 |
| 44 South Main Street above drug store |
1894 - 1896 |
| Dehalter’s Hall, 28-30 West 3rd South |
1896 - 1898 |
| B’Nai Israel Syngogue, 249 South 4th East |
1898 - 1899 |
| Salt Lake Theater |
1901 - 1902 |
| I.O.O.F Hall, 41 Post Office Place |
1902 - 1903 |
| Unity Hall, 138 South 2nd East |
1903 - 1926 |
| Ladies Literary Club |
1926 - 1927 |
| First Unitarian Church, 569 South 1300 East |
1927 - |
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“We have come a long way since Feb. 1891, traveling sometimes slowly and
sometimes with sudden, great bursts of speed. We may be trying to attain the
unattainable, but our great common goal as expressed in the covenant of the
church is still the only prize we can in all honesty strive to achieve: ‘To
dwell together in peace, to speak, to seek the truth on love, and to help one
another.’”-Virginia Picht
First Unitarian Church
569 S 1300 East SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84102-3228
(801) 582-8687
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Telephone:
801-582-3100 ♦ TTY: 711 ♦
Fax: 801-583-0412