2. Congregation Histories : Iowa

Iowa City

Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City

In 1840, as part of the process that led to Iowa’s statehood six years later, a temporary statehouse was erected in Iowa City. As there were as yet no houses of worship in the tiny settlement, the territorial governor immediately opened the public rooms to any and all groups or preachers, of whatever sect, who wished to conduct public services. Over the prior two years several itinerant preachers of the Universalist persuasion had stopped in Iowa City to hold meetings in various settlers’ cabins, but none had taken up residence. Once the statehouse was opened, however, the Reverend A. R. Gardiner, Universalist, was among the first to accept the governor’s invitation. On November 6, 1841, the First Universalist Society of Iowa City was organized at the house of Mr. Ed Foster, president.

By 1842, Gardiner’s congregation had grown to the point of seeking its own permanent quarters. As part of the original city plan, the territorial government had set aside several quarter-blocks in central locations to be deeded in grant to any religious society that would agree to erect a permanent within two years. The Universalist Society of Iowa City received the second such grant. After Gardiner’s successful fund-raising trip to the East, which yielded contributions from Horace Greeley and P.T. Barnum among others, the Society dedicated its first building in 1844.

Following Gardiner’s departure in 1845, the Society languished under intermittent and short-lived leadership. Not until 1869 was another strong minister secured, the Reverend Augusta Chapin, and not a moment too soon. Almost immediately after Chapin’s arrival, the Society’s meeting house burned to the ground. Despite being forced to gather in a former bowling alley, and later in the Lutheran church sanctuary, the congregation prospered under Chapin’s hand. Lecturers Mary Livermore and Susan B. Anthony graced its pulpit. In 1870, the Society bought property located directly across the street from the growing State University of Iowa, and erected a grand Byzantine-style church, dedicated in 1873. Unfortunately Reverend Chapin was unable to preach at the dedication due to poor health. When her condition failed to improve within the next year, she was forced to resign.

Once again, the Society languished. By 1878, the congregation had dwindled to the point that services were held only when itinerant preachers could be enticed to visit. In that year, however, a third savior arose. The Rev. Oscar Clute was a Unitarian minister, assigned by the fledging Iowa Unitarian Conference to the Keokuk church to do missionary work. Upon learning of the Iowa City Universalists’ need, he convinced the American Unitarian Association to underwrite his initial salary as minister in Iowa City on the condition that the Universalists permit him the use of their building. As soon as the deal was sealed, Clute commenced an energetic public ministry specifically aimed at the University community. By 1882, the Society was thriving with new people, most attracted by Clute’s Unitarian approach, and the congregation formally changed denominational affiliations to become a member of the AUA. In 1884, Oscar Clute resigned to become General Secretary of the Western Unitarian Conference.

Throughout the century since Oscar Clute’s ministry, the Iowa City Society has maintained a strong liberal presence in its community. The Reverend Eleanor Gordon brought the Society through the crisis of yet another fire in 1896, before resigning in 1900 to become Secretary of the Iowa Unitarian Association in Des Moines. When the University’s expansion converted the church building to a student union in 1908, the Reverend Robert Loring led the congregation to purchase its current site a few blocks away and designed the original portion of the current meeting house. The Reverend Arthur Weatherly raised the society’s social consciousness during the 1920s, and the Reverend Evans Worthley brought it through the depression and war years in style. The Unitarian Universalist merger in 1961 reconnected the Society to its roots, and, in 1962, a three-story classroom and office building expansion, now named “Worthley House,” prepared it for future growth. Recent ministers have been Al Henriksen (1952–58), Khoren Arisian (1958–64), Bill Weir (1965–70), Thomas Mikelson (1971–83) and Fritz Hudson (1984–present).

(Author not noted)