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First Unitarian Church
Louisville
KY
40203-2299
- Unitarian churches in Louisville, KY
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Who we are
Welcome! Whether you come to visit once or stay for a lifetime of religious growth and fellowship, First Unitarian Church of Louisville may have a place for you.
Regardless of your political beliefs, your theology or lack thereof, your gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, education, abilities, needs, or family structure, we invite you to come and see if we might be the religious community you are looking for.
Childcare is offered for all our services and activities.
Ours is a liberal, locally governed congregation in association with the churches of the Unitarian Universalist Association (http://www.uua.org).
We are located on the corner of Fourth and York, across from the Main Library. You can find directions to our church at http://www.firstulou.org/whereweare.html. Our address is 809 South 4th Street if you care to use Mapquest or another web mapping site.
We enter on the Library Lane entrance, which is really in the back of the Church. Handicapped parking is available there and also a wheelchair ramp. Almost every part of First Unitarian Church is accessible to people with mobility challenges. We also have an elevator for those unable to climb stairs to access the second floor where many of our religious exploration classrooms are located. Assisted hearing devices, large print orders of service and hymnals are available. A Braille description of UUism is also available.
Regardless of your political beliefs, your theology or lack thereof, your gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, education, abilities, needs, or family structure, we invite you to come and see if we might be the religious community you are looking for.
Childcare is offered for all our services and activities.
Ours is a liberal, locally governed congregation in association with the churches of the Unitarian Universalist Association (http://www.uua.org).
We are located on the corner of Fourth and York, across from the Main Library. You can find directions to our church at http://www.firstulou.org/whereweare.html. Our address is 809 South 4th Street if you care to use Mapquest or another web mapping site.
We enter on the Library Lane entrance, which is really in the back of the Church. Handicapped parking is available there and also a wheelchair ramp. Almost every part of First Unitarian Church is accessible to people with mobility challenges. We also have an elevator for those unable to climb stairs to access the second floor where many of our religious exploration classrooms are located. Assisted hearing devices, large print orders of service and hymnals are available. A Braille description of UUism is also available.
Church Address
809 S 4th St
Louisville,
KY
40203-2299
United States
Phone: (502) 585-5110
Fax: (502) 587-8446
Download First Unitarian Church vCard with Service Times
Church Pastor
Rev. Kathy Hurt
Minister
809 S 4th St
Louisville,
KY
40203-2299
United States
Phone: 502-585-5110
Download Minister Rev. Kathy Hurt vCard with Bio
Quote of the Day
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
Denomination
Unitarian
Unitarian churches in Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Unitarian churches in Kentucky, United States
Unitarian churches in United States
All churches in Louisville, KY
Affiliations:
Website:
Social Media
First Unitarian Church Louisville on YouTube
Leadership
Leader Name:
Rev. Kathy Hurt
Leader Position:
Minister
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
Tel:
Fax:
Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
Rev. Kathy Hurt has been a transitional and developmental minister in several churches over her 30 year career in ministry. She grew up in Texas and life has taken her to California, Michigan, Ohio, and Minnesota. She's a Meadville Lombard Seminary graduate and was ordained by Unity Church - Unitarian in St. Paul. She started out in Minnesota helping churches do the transition work of preparing for new ministers. Over her long career, she's seen it all. Growing churches, fellowships exploring how to hire their first full time minister, even one church in Ohio that was liberal Baptist exploring converting to our Unitarian Universalist denomination. In between her years of formal ministry, she ran her own community ministry business, did work with women and children and at risk youth and got a masters degree in counseling. Most recently she's been the Senior Minister at Birmingham Unitarian Church in Michigan where she is finishing out the church year before coming here to settle in for the next two years. Our first Sunday with Rev. Hurt will be August 6th, where we will welcome her with cake and fellowship, so mark your calendars and plan on being here as she introduces herself to us and join us for lunch and celebration after that service.
Other Church Leaders:
Rev. Kathy Hurt on Social Media:
First Unitarian Church Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Barbara Creasy
Admin Position:
Office Administrator
Admin Address:
Telephone:
Fax:
(502) 587-8446
Admin Email:
Mailing Address
Driving Directions to First Unitarian Church
Travel/Directions Tips
Parking
Free Parking: Parking is free in the lot off of 4th Street next to the church all day Sunday. It is free until 1:30 on Sundays in the lot off of York Strret across from the library.
When entering the building, please use the main entrance available near the back of parking lot, beside the accessibility ramp.
When entering the building, please use the main entrance available near the back of parking lot, beside the accessibility ramp.
First Unitarian Church Louisville Service Times
Sunday Schedule
9:45 - 10:45 Religious Exploration (RE)
Doors open at 9:30
Exploration Hour for Adults
Exploration Hour for Children
9:30 - 12:15 Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
11:00 - 12:00 Celebration of Life (CoL)
Upcoming CoL Topics
12::00 - 12:45 Social Hour
A time for fellowship, coffee or tea, snacks.
12:00 Luncheons and events
First Sunday Luncheons after the Celebration of Life monthly.
Other events and luncheons after the service as scheduled.
Sunday worship is comprised of sharing, readings, musical selections, hymns, and other elements selected for their harmony, inspirational value, beauty, and dignity.
After the Celebration of Life service we invite you to join us for fellowship and refreshments. Lunch is often offered on the first Sunday of the month after church.
Service Times last updated on the 25th of May, 2018
9:45 - 10:45 Religious Exploration (RE)
Doors open at 9:30
Exploration Hour for Adults
Exploration Hour for Children
9:30 - 12:15 Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
Child Care for Infants and Toddlers
11:00 - 12:00 Celebration of Life (CoL)
Upcoming CoL Topics
12::00 - 12:45 Social Hour
A time for fellowship, coffee or tea, snacks.
12:00 Luncheons and events
First Sunday Luncheons after the Celebration of Life monthly.
Other events and luncheons after the service as scheduled.
Sunday worship is comprised of sharing, readings, musical selections, hymns, and other elements selected for their harmony, inspirational value, beauty, and dignity.
After the Celebration of Life service we invite you to join us for fellowship and refreshments. Lunch is often offered on the first Sunday of the month after church.
Service Times last updated on the 25th of May, 2018
Worship Languages
Dress code:
You are welcome to wear whatever you are comfortable in. Members often describe the dress code as 'business casual,' but some people wear their 'Sunday Best,' and many wear jeans. In the summer shorts and t-shirts are a common uniform, while in the winter, sweaters and boots are likely outifts.
Children should wear comfortable clothes. They may spend time playing on the carpeted floor, or work with art supplies. Sometimes they may go outside.
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
Special Needs/Accessibility:
Prayers and hymns:
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information:
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
First Unitarian Church Photo Gallery
First Unitarian Church History
First Unitarian History
Our historic church, constructed in 1871, is reminiscent of English country churches built in the gothic tradition. After the 1985 fire which gutted the building, we rebuilt it to maintain as much as possible of the original church by keeping the outside stone walls, gables, and gothic arches. However, we incorporated contemporary elements of light, openness, and flexibility into the new design. We connected the main building to the Victorian Italianate house next door, purchased in the 1970s, which resulted in an interesting mix of old and new for our long-time downtown setting.
Campus Timeline
1830: First Unitarian Society of Louisville is formed
1832: Unitarians dedicate new building on the corner of Fifth and Walnut
1840: Universalists buy and repair a building on Chapel Street
1843: Universalists build a new building in the 800 block of West Market Street
1852: Unitarians expand building to add more pews
1865: First Unitarian establishes the Widow's and Orphan's Home
1869: Unitarians and Universalists merge in Louisville to form a new church called The Church of the Messiah
1871: New building is dedicated at the corner of Fourth and York Street
1872: Building is rededicated after a fire destroyed the building in late 1871
1895: Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt speak on sufferage outside the church
1918: Name of church is changed back to First Unitarian
1951: Theophilus Conrad Parish House is dedicated
1957-1960: Thomas Jefferson (link is external) church planted
1979: Campus expanded to include Heywood House property
1985-1989: Fire destroys building, congregation meets at Plymouth Church
1989: Re-built building is dedicated and congration moves back into the building
Ministry Timeline
1832-1833 George Chapman
1833-1839 James Freeman Clark
1840-1880 John Healy Heywood
1880-1883 CJK Jones
1883-1884 John B Green
1884-1898 CJK Jones
1898-1900 Arthur Littlefield
1900-1902 Frederick Hawley
1903-1909 William H Ramsey
1910-1916 Maxwell Savage
1916-1919 Dilworth Lupton
1919-1923 R. Ernest Akin
1923-1930 Lon R Call
1930-1937 Richard WF Seebode
1938-1941 Carl B Bihldorff
1942-1945 Maynard Van Dyke
1946-1960 Robert T Weston
1961-1963 Phillip Smith
1963-1967 David Brown
1968-1985 Robert Reed
Interim: Virginia Knowles
1986-2001 Richard Beal
Interim: David Parker
2002-2006 Norm Stewart
Interim: Betsy Schuermann
Interim: Alma Crawford
2009-2016 Dawn Cooley
The founding of First Unitarian in Louisville in 1830 was a direct outgrowth of a decision by the newly formed AUA to send newly trained ministers westward. The church was founded by six local families and raised enough funds to erect a permanent building in 1832. In the early years of the church the ministers often also played key roles in local history. James Freeman Clarke edited the Western Messenger, a Unitarian journal. John Healy Heywood was an agent for the Louisville School system and say the establishment of the first male and female public high shcools.
Our historic church, constructed in 1871, is reminiscent of English country churches built in the gothic tradition. After the 1985 fire which gutted the building, we rebuilt it to maintain as much as possible of the original church by keeping the outside stone walls, gables, and gothic arches. However, we incorporated contemporary elements of light, openness, and flexibility into the new design. We connected the main building to the Victorian Italianate house next door, purchased in the 1970s, which resulted in an interesting mix of old and new for our long-time downtown setting.
Campus Timeline
1830: First Unitarian Society of Louisville is formed
1832: Unitarians dedicate new building on the corner of Fifth and Walnut
1840: Universalists buy and repair a building on Chapel Street
1843: Universalists build a new building in the 800 block of West Market Street
1852: Unitarians expand building to add more pews
1865: First Unitarian establishes the Widow's and Orphan's Home
1869: Unitarians and Universalists merge in Louisville to form a new church called The Church of the Messiah
1871: New building is dedicated at the corner of Fourth and York Street
1872: Building is rededicated after a fire destroyed the building in late 1871
1895: Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt speak on sufferage outside the church
1918: Name of church is changed back to First Unitarian
1951: Theophilus Conrad Parish House is dedicated
1957-1960: Thomas Jefferson (link is external) church planted
1979: Campus expanded to include Heywood House property
1985-1989: Fire destroys building, congregation meets at Plymouth Church
1989: Re-built building is dedicated and congration moves back into the building
Ministry Timeline
1832-1833 George Chapman
1833-1839 James Freeman Clark
1840-1880 John Healy Heywood
1880-1883 CJK Jones
1883-1884 John B Green
1884-1898 CJK Jones
1898-1900 Arthur Littlefield
1900-1902 Frederick Hawley
1903-1909 William H Ramsey
1910-1916 Maxwell Savage
1916-1919 Dilworth Lupton
1919-1923 R. Ernest Akin
1923-1930 Lon R Call
1930-1937 Richard WF Seebode
1938-1941 Carl B Bihldorff
1942-1945 Maynard Van Dyke
1946-1960 Robert T Weston
1961-1963 Phillip Smith
1963-1967 David Brown
1968-1985 Robert Reed
Interim: Virginia Knowles
1986-2001 Richard Beal
Interim: David Parker
2002-2006 Norm Stewart
Interim: Betsy Schuermann
Interim: Alma Crawford
2009-2016 Dawn Cooley
The founding of First Unitarian in Louisville in 1830 was a direct outgrowth of a decision by the newly formed AUA to send newly trained ministers westward. The church was founded by six local families and raised enough funds to erect a permanent building in 1832. In the early years of the church the ministers often also played key roles in local history. James Freeman Clarke edited the Western Messenger, a Unitarian journal. John Healy Heywood was an agent for the Louisville School system and say the establishment of the first male and female public high shcools.
First Unitarian Church Historical Photos
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