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Universalism in New Bedford, Massachusetts

A comprehensive history of Universalism in New Bedford has yet to be written. But the quotations below, collected from primary and secondary source material, offer a glimpse of almost two centuries of the Universalist presence in New Bedford.

19th C. Universalism

The history of Universalism in New Bedford goes back to the 1820's, according to this passage from History of the Churches in New Bedford, published in 1869 (pp. 113-115):

Rev. Hosea Ballou preacher the first Universalist sermon in this place more than forty years ago, in a carpenter shop owned by Dudley Davenport, which stood on the site now occupied by the Trinitarian Church. Subsequently occasional services were held, but very irregularly, and no permanent organization was attempted until April 19th, 1835, when a meeting was held at the Town Hall, at which a committee was appointed to procure a site for a church. It purchased a lot on the corner of School and Fifth streets, and a church was built by Dudley Davenport, at a cost of $6,500....

Previous to the completion of this edifice, Rev. John M.[urray] Spear was engaged temporarily to preach in the Town Hall, and permanently installed as pastor, April, 1836. In September following the house was dedicated, Rev. Hosea Ballou preaching the sermon. Mr. Spear retained his post until September, 1841. He was succeeded by Rev. L. S. Sadler, who preached for the society only six months; and was followed by Rev. Mr. Farnsworth, who continued his ministry until October, 1846; after which the Rev. Silas S. Fletcher officiated as pastor to the satisfaction of the society, until 1849, when Rev. Mr. Waldo assumed the pastoral charge. In the Spring of 1849, owing to the removal of a number of its members, and some embarrassment in its financial affairs, it became necessary to sell the church edifice, and the society lost its existence.

During the Summer of 1851, an effort was made to reorganize the church, and in the Fall of the same year, Rev. H. Van Campbell was invited to preach premanently. On the 15th of November, a legal meeting was convened in Sears Hall, and a new society, numbering 24 members, was formed.

During the second year of Mr. Van Campbell's pastorate, he gave notice of his reisgnation to take effect at the close of that year. His services were however, continued until the commencement of 1854, when Rev. Mr. Stevenson, of Chelsea, became pastor. He reamined three years. During the second year, the church on William street was erected. Services were held in the vestry, June 3d, but the building was not finished until some two months later; it was dedicated August 15th, 1855, sermon by the pastor. The whole cost was $10,000; it was all paid for at that time, and has ever been free from debt...."

The first Universalist church building stood at the corner of Purchase and School Streets until late December, 1975. According to the New Bedford Sunday Standard-Times of December 14, 1975 (p. 53), the building was "used for commercial purposes for almost the last 100 years.... Constructed as a Universalist meeting house, the church later served members of the original and then only Catholic parish in the city." The building was purchased by Pilgrim Church and torn down to create a parking lot.

Other Universalist ministries of interest included Rev. Dr. Flanders, who served from 1882-1891 and whose pastorate was recalled as a particularly stable time in the church's life. In 1892, this is how Universalism was summed up by Hiram Van Campen, then Sunday school superintendent of First Universalist:

The parish has at no time been large, yet has it at no time been devoid of a wholesome influence in this community. It has steadfastly maintained distinctive Universalism, as a scriptural Christian doctrine. --"The Universalist Church," by Hiram Van Campen, in History of New Bedford and Its Vicinity 1602-1892, 1892, ed. by L. B. Ellis

20th C. Universalism

Rev. Howard Charles Gale served as minister of First Universalist Church from 1911 to 1916. In his autobiography, My Triple Life (privately printed, 1969), Mr. Gale recalled his impressions of the building:

The Universalist church was near the center of the city, only a block from City Hall and the library. In the old days it must have been charming old New England "meeting house," but the modernism of the mid-century had done its worst, as is the case of so many beautiful buildings. The simple windows had given way to ornate glass, the old high back pews were replaced with "modern" pews arranged in a "graceful" curve so that all might see the preacher. The old high pulpit was gone and a platform ran across the front of the church, behind which was the organ and much room to spare. In front of this "choir rail" was a small semi-circular platform barely large enough for a modern pulpit, plus three overstuffed "pulpit chairs." Down in front was a small "communion table" which was occasionally used. The pulpit platform and the aisle to the door were carpeted with a bright green, something to be remembered. I don't know how I stood it....

While Mr. Gale, an advocate of a formal liturgy based on the Universalist Prayer Book, did not care much for the church building, his description paints a vivid picture of the building as it was then.

First Universalist continued in formal corporate existence until about 1938, although it essentially ceased to fundtion as a congregation some years earlier than that. The 1855 Universalist church building on William St. was sold (after passing through a number of owners, the old building now houses "Gallery X," an artist's cooperative gallery). Beginning in 1931, a group of Universalists who had transferred to First Unitarian formed the Murray Club, meeting regularly and, in a sense, maintaining an institutional presence for Universalism in their new congregation.

By 1961 Unitarians and Universalists had merged at the national level, and First Unitarian formally became a Unitarian Universalist congregation. But the last vestige of First Universalist Church in New Bedford ended in 1972, according to this announcement in the May-14-20, 1972, newsletter of First Unitarian:

Unhappily, the Murray Club, long an active organization in our church, has been forced to disband. The members felt that their dwindling membership could no longer justify the regular monthly meetings in the Parish House.

One of the group's last acts was to donate 19 dollars to the minister, which he has used to repair a refrigerator for an elderly woman in New Bedford. It was an act of kindness by a very kind group of people.

21st C. Universalism

Today, First Unitarian continues to carry on the old Universalist spirit of hope, courage, annd love in New Bedford. The current minister, Rev. Dan Harper, frequently draws on Universalist theology and texts for the worship services. Several members of the congregation feel closer to our Universalist heritage than to our Unitarian heritage. Thus, even though we retain the historic name "First Unitarian," the Universalist spirit is still very much present in our congregation.