Anecdotal History of UUCB
2011 was a Triple Anniversary year for the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley: 120 years as a congregation, 50 years at the Kensington location, and 50 years since the merger of Unitarians and Universalists. The theme of our year-long celebration was “Looking Back, Looking Forward: Honoring a Proud Tradition.”
As part of our “Looking Back,” members Grace Ulp and Kay Fairwell asked present and former members for help in telling UUCB stories. We asked for memories, anecdotes, and reminiscences about events and activities over the past 120 years. Keep in mind that the history you see here is a collection of memories; the definitive history is yet to be written.
We hope that you will view this as a living collection. As you read through the many entries, may the fire of your memory be stoked and you be inspired to add to this collection. If so, please send your memories to Kay Fairwell or Grace Ulp. We will be periodically updating the anecdotal history page.
In some places you may note that dates are missing or noted with question marks. If you can fill in any such information, we’d love to have it. If there are any specific areas that you feel have been overlooked or neglected, please also let us know about those, especially if you have such information or know who might. If you are looking for mention of specific groups, programs, individuals, or events (or to find your own entries!), you can use the search button to locate this information.
The chapter on “Personal Stories and Miscellaneous Musings” holds those entries that seemed to be more reminiscences than reporting—and those entries that fit into more than one category. We have made every attempt to include all submissions; if yours was inadvertently overlooked, please let us know this also.
The history is categorized as follows:
Looking Back
What Was Berkeley Like in 1891?by Maizie Newman
Berkeley was an isolated village, with the new state university not long established. It was separated from Oakland by a train ride, with several other isolated villages in the farmlands between. South Berkeley was ...
Arts at UUCB
This section on the arts includes articles on art objects, poetry, choirs and musical groups, dance, drama, music in general, and musicals and concerts. (Note: See the Appendices for a list of Musical VIPs and Scott Merrick’s List of Events, which includes musical performances.)
Art and Poetry
Art Objects at the Church
by Grace Ulp
The bronze bird ...
Retreats
All-Church Retreats
by Grace Ulp
From time to time there were all-church retreats held at some of the pleasant retreat places around the Bay Area. Freestone retreat was used several times—a sunny day would give views over the valley and of the turkey vultures riding the updrafts, companionship, lunch on the deck, and worship and discussions.
Several times ...
Stewardship
Taking Care of the Church
The Office in 1973by Grace Ulp
Most of the equipment in the office was just about what had been down at the “old church” in 1961 when we came up the hill. A spirit duplicator ...
Personal Stories…
…and Miscellaneous Musings
This section contains personal stories, anecdotes, and miscellaneous entries that don’t fit easily into one category. The entries are in alphabetical order by last name of contributors. Note that these authors may have entries in other sections of this history.
Lindsay Staubus Alger
I was a member of the church school starting when ...
Social Action
…and Service
Bring Your Weight in Foodby Rev. Barbara Hamilton-Holway
In 2002 UUCB held an Oxfam Hunger Banquet with Lee Lawrence as organizer. Bill and I also invited people to join us in fasting one meal a week, with the ...
Education
Summer Workshop in International Living
by Elaine Miller
1960s at UUCB (then FUCB) During the summer the kids would have—I forget what it was called but it was something like a day camp—based on a country. I think we did Russia one year, and maybe Greece another year. Maybe they were called ...
Partner Church
Partner Churchby Jay Hanks
Early in 1990, partnerships began forming between UU churches in America and Unitarian Churches in the Transylvanian region of Romania. In August 1990 the UUCB Choir and a few others toured Eastern Europe and made ...
Governance
Name Changeby Grace Ulp
Along with the coming of the Hamilton-Holways to our church came the feeling that we really should reflect the name of the denomination in our church name. Previously it was the First Unitarian Church of ...
Groups at UUCB
This section is a potpourri of groups. There are individual descriptions of groups, a list of groups that existed at a specific time, and individuals remembering one or more groups.
(This list was approved by the Board of Trustees; Have filed officers’ names and addresses with the Board; main officers and most of the membership are ...
Ministry
Ministry in General
Community Ministersby Rev. Jane Ramsey
To my knowledge UUCB’s first community minster was Rev. Mary Kapper, a hospice chaplain in the mid-nineties, followed by Rev. Patty Franz, who at the time was a hospice chaplain and has ...
Worship
…and Spiritual Development
Notes on Worship and Spiritual Development at UUCBby Kay Fairwell
Addition of a Second Service
Our Governance Document features a Global End, or goal, for worship: “UUCB is a spiritual community where members and friends of all ages ...
Appendix: UUCB Board of Trustees Presidents
UUCB Board of Trustees Presidents
Term President
2011– Stephanie Ann Blythe
2009–10 Warren Zittel
2007–09 Kay Fairwell
2005–07 Susan Lankford
2002–05 John Cahoon
2000–02 Margaret Gudmundsson
1998–2000 Patrick Cullinane
1996–98 Suzanne Lieban
1993–96 Jim Burneo
1992–93 Roger Thompson
1991–92 Sheila Kennedy
1989–91 Karen Campbell
1988–89 Alex Holt
1987–88 Mac Lingo
1986–87 Bob Moore
1985–86 Jeanne Griffith
1984–85 John Tucker
1983–84 Jeanne Loomer
1982–83 Ann McDonald
1981–82 Erda Labuhn
1980–81 Jerry Wilson
1977–80 Barbara Bridge
1975–77 David Ulrich
1973–75 Ed Lampo
1972–73 ...
Appendix: Mileposts, 1991
Mileposts from the Centennial Calendar, 1991
July 19, 1891 Rev. Thomas Van Ness gives “right hand of fellowship” to the 32 members
July 26, 1891 First Board elected and met: 7 men
August 2, 1891 Music Committee appointed, $2.25 given to them for music
August 9, 1891 First 30 pledges received (called “subscriptions”)
October 18, 1891 Edward B. Payne called ...
Appendix: Interns, etc.
Interns, Ministers in Training, Starr King Students Employed at UUCB, and Some Other Staff Positions
Name At UUCB Ordained Comments, Ministry Locations
Prosser, Loring 1968–69 1970 Ministerial Assistant;
Buffalo NY, Elkhart IN, Indianapolis, IN. Emeritus at Oaklandon UU ChurchSchuler, Michael 1974–76 1976 MIT 1974–75, Intern ...
Appendix: Music VIPs
Music VIPs
Directors of Music
Years Directors
4/1/1962 Harold Hawley
11/26/61 to8/31/82 Phyllis Wells
1970s Ron Daniel
Interim 9/82 to 1/83 David Swayne
2/83 to 9/87 Edwin Barlow
1/88 to 8/92 Simon Andrews
9/92 to 4/93 Jay Kawarsky
5/93 to ...
Appendix: UUCB Ministers
Edward B. Payne, 1892–1897
In 1891 the AUA—American Unitarian Association—offered to contribute $1,000 toward a minister’s salary for the first year. However, they meant it to be $500 for a minister’s salary, and $500 salary for the proposed seminary. The church had found its own minister, and insisted on the full sum. With $500 from the ...
