by Douglas H. Parkhurst

Continued from July 2024…

In July 1956 Rev. Frederick Harrison reported that a silver tankard and chalice for communion services had been given to First Universalist Church (now Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury or UUCD) by the “Universalist Convention,” likely the Connecticut Convention. New-to-the church office equipment was acquired. A second-hand mimeograph machine was purchased for $75.00 at Stryker’s Office Equipment in Bethel, and a used typewriter for $65.00. Two file cabinets for the church school were also obtained. A fund for the purchase of a tape recorder was started; the tape recorder was purchased later in the year.

Mr. Harrison was a founding member of the Humiliati, a group of younger clergy which embraced “emergent Universalism.” The symbol of a circle enclosing a small, off-center cross in the lower left originated with the Humiliati; with Rev. Harrison’s arrival First Universalist adopted it for use on orders of service, stationery, and the like. A metal rendering of this symbol, owned by and which in recent years has been displayed at UUCD, was probably fabricated around this time by member Jack Rowland, who operated a local iron working business.

Major changes to First Universalist’s governance structure were approved by the congregation at a special meeting on November 1, 1956. Such action had been under consideration for several months. It entailed adoption of a revised church constitution and the formal merger of Danbury’s First Universalist Society and First Universalist Church into a single organization. The annual stewardship campaign would be conducted during the fall, and First Universalist’s fiscal year changed to coincide with the calendar year. The annual meeting and election were moved to January and existing pledges continued to the end of 1957. The membership list of the newly merged group would be revised. In addition, filing to incorporate the church under Connecticut state law was anticipated in the coming months.

Weekly church attendance during this period ranged between forty and sixty adults. There were forty to fifty children enrolled in First Universalist’s religious education program. Summer services were scheduled for 1956; during Rev. Harrison’s absence for two Sundays in late August guest ministers would cover for him at $25.00 per Sunday. A Christmas Eve Candlelight Service was planned, with a soloist and the children’s choir taking part and a special Christmas offering collected.

In late January 1957 Mr. Harrison announced his resignation from First Universalist, though he would continue as pastor until May 1. As Easter approached, a Lenten devotional guide called “Greatly to Be” was distributed to each family with the March 1957 copy of the Danbury church newsletter “The Universalist.” Palms were distributed to congregants on Palm Sunday, April 14. Rev. Harrison planned to participate in Danbury’s community Lenten services and a special communion service was scheduled at First Universalist for Maundy Thursday.

Around this time a Wayside Community Pulpit was installed on the front lawn of First Universalist Church. It faced the sidewalk and street. This large, glass-fronted bulletin board displayed short pithy statements or spiritually-related quotations, usually of a liberal bent, for reflection by passersby. For example, this quotation from Anonymous: “War does not determine who is right – only who is left.” These messages were provided by subscription and could be changed on a regular basis. They can still be seen today in front of some Unitarian Universalist churches. The Wayside Pulpit stood in front of the Danbury church at 347 Main Street for a number of years.

Rev. Harrison attended his last First Universalist board meeting in April 1957 as he prepared to leave Danbury for his new position as superintendent of Universalist churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut. A lengthy discussion by board members ensued at the May meeting regarding the on-going search for Rev. Harrison’s successor. The board’s first choice of the several ministers who showed interest in coming to Danbury had accepted the offer of another church. As it appeared a new minister would not be in place by early summer, the board voted to close the church during July and August, to reopen on September 8.

To be continued in September 2024…