We, as members of the
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock,
come together to create a welcoming community
of diverse people who search for
spiritual meaning in our lives.
We listen to each other, speak our truths,
and respect ideas and beliefs that are
different from our own.
We take responsibility for our
words and actions.
We strive to be compassionate and
loving with ourselves and with others.
We promote social justice and
serve all in our community.
Our Members
UUFR members come from different backgrounds and different spiritual paths. Those who wish to pursue their path with a commitment to mutual respect for other beliefs and lifestyles are welcome.
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock, like all Unitarian Universalist (UU) fellowships, affirms and promotes these Seven Principles:
Our Unitarian Universalist experience draws from many sources:
These principles and sources of faith are the backbone of our religious community.
For Further Information on Unitarian Universalism click here
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UUFR
Before 1997 there was no Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in the Northern Neck. A recent arrival, David Daugherty, began to wonder if there were Unitarian Universalists in the area who might be interested in meeting together. He obtained a list of those who belonged to the Church of the Larger Fellowship and contacted people in the area. As a result, he met with Susan Fallin, Ina Fuller, and Janet Sutton. Beginning in October 1997, home-based meetings were held every other Sunday.
In the spring of 1998, the group began meeting at the Lancaster Community Library. Linda Lane-Hamilton and David Hamilton, from the Williamsburg Unitarian Universalist Church, met with the group in several development sessions, after which they decided to meet every Sunday to become a Fellowship, and to adopt a name that would indicate a wide territory. Thus, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Rappahannock (UUFR) came into being.
The first Sunday of August 1998 was the first meeting of the Fellowship at a new home, the White Stone Woman`s Club. Charter Sunday was May 2, 1999, with Roger Comstock, President of the Thomas Jefferson UU District, as guest speaker. Our first president, Andrew Kelsey, presided. Andy identified “A Home of Our Own” as a future priority. The UUFR was accepted into the Unitarian Universalist Association and continued as a lay-led congregation with guest speakers twice a month and members speaking the other Sundays.
President Bob Weekley initiated a search for a long-term rental or purchase of property for a permanent home for our Fellowship in June 2000. A great deal of planning and activity led to the ground-breaking ceremony on June 3, 2007. The first Sunday service in the not-yet-finished building was on August 17, 2008, and then on November 16, 2008, the building was officially dedicated.
Now, in a home of our own, the mission to inspire intellectual and spiritual growth is reinforced by the informal and provocative services and programs led by the congregation and visitors. The Fellowship continues to be involved in several community programs. Our Kid’s First program to support high-quality pre-K programs in four of our county schools has been implemented in Lancaster and Middlesex, with talks underway in Matthews and Northumberland. We have a butterfly garden, a labyrinth, and a memorial grove. In June of 2018, we hired our first part-time minister, and the expansion of the building was completed.
In March of 2024, our first minister retired and we will be starting our search for a new minister.
We are a welcoming fellowship, committed to the inclusion of every person. All are welcome without regard for race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status.