Welcome!
our church history

We are all a part of history. The history of our church is not only part of Buffalo but it is also the story of all the religious pioneers who came before. We encourage you to also explore some of those roots by looking through the information presented through several links on our history: UU pioneers page.
Another interesting place to learn more about Unitarian Universalism is at the website uua.org newsletter. There you will find a wide variety of general information on all aspects of Unitarian churches.
And this is an interesting site discussing some of the local architecture & UU historical background.

In 1953 the Unitarian Church and the Universalist Church in Buffalo joined together----- eight years before the two denominations merged on a continental level!

It was agreed that the newly united congregations would occupy the building at Elmwood and West Ferry, and that proceeds from the disposition of the North St. Universalist Church should be used to found a suburban branch. In December, 1953, precisely 122 years after their foundings, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Buffalo began the creation of a new suburban church which was to become known as the UU Church of Amherst, NY...

In 1954 the Calvary Episcopal Church Building at 96 Los Robles Ave. in Williamsville was acquired; and after a 'desanctification ceremony' by the previous owners, an enthusiastic group of Unitarian Universalists (after ironing out some differences about the color of paint to be used) completely transformed the Calvary Church Chapel in a little over three weeks. The redecoration was finished on the morning of the opening service, Sunday, March 7, 1954. In 1958 we became a separate entity with our own board of trustees. The Chairperson was Dr. Kenneth Brown, Dr. Robert Fisk was the Vice Chairperson, K. William Shields was the Secretary, and King Bird was Treasurer. The Reverend Robert L Cope was called as minister.

In 1958 The Reverend John Kolbjornsen succeeded Rev. Cope as minister and in late spring of 1960 we acquired the former Charles Hoyt residence here at 6320 Main Street. Part of the house was converted to classroom space for the church school. In November the church campaigned for a three-year building fund, exceeding the goal of $100,000. The committees immediately worked on plans for a new church to be appended to the house. The architect Nelson J. Palmer was retained. And in 1962, aided by a UUA loan construction was started on this chapel.

On Easter morning in 1964 we met in this sanctuary for the first time... exactly 10 years after our founding. We hired a professional choir director and organist. The following year, 1964, The Reverend Howard Waterhouse was called as minister.

In 1968 the new church school wing was opened, and The Reverend Blaine Hartford replaced Rev. Waterhouse. The Reverend Paul Treat replaced him in 1972, followed by The Reverend Felix Lion in 1975.

In 1981 The Reverend Carl Thitchener was called as our minister. In 1988 the congregation ordained The Reverend Maureen Thitchener who, after serving a congregation in Canada for three years, joined her husband as Co-Minister of our congregation in 1991. They continued serving as our co-ministers until January 2003.And in January of 2003, The Reverends Maureen and Carl Thitchener retired after having been named ministers emerita and emeritus. In 2004, Reverend Timothy Ashton began service wtih our congregation, ushering in a new period of growth and public service.

Throughout our years together as a church various committees have been established to meet the need and concerns of the congregation as well as the community. The Social Concerns Committee started in 1965. A suicide prevention center was formed at that time. The integrated Rockledge Day Camp was established during the summer months which used our grounds and facilities. The Country Day Nursery School was opened in the Church School in 1975. We have served as landlord to an experimental group whose "free school" used our facilities from 1969-1971. In 1971 the New School of Performing Arts used our space for instruction in music dance and drama.

During the 1960s and 70s our church helped found the Black and White Association, a national organization formed in an effort to promote interracial understanding and cooperation. We obtained funding from the NY State Council for the Artsand provided the community with the opportunity to see movies, plays, dances, concerts and art by local and national black artists. In 1973 we sponsored the world-wide known Alvin Aily Dance Group which performed to standing room only audiences at Kleinhans Music Hall.

This congregation was also very active in working to eliminate racial housing discrimination. At a time when few minority families owned or rented property in Amherst we supported a resolution to support effective legislation to eliminate discrimination in housing in New York State which eventually became a reality.

One of the most far reaching and important groups started by this church was RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers). RID has been able to influence the legislatures to pass laws which increased penalties on individuals convicted of drunk driving.

In June of 1986 this congregation declared itself a nuclear-free zone. And in February of 1987 The Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst was the focus of international attention as condoms were distributed during a church service by Rev Carl Thitchener to dramatize the urgent need for accurate information about how to prevent the spread of AIDS.

Other social action activities have included:

Joining a cooperative venture with the Lincoln Memorial Methodist Church which consisted of a nursery school and a parenting skills program in which over 20 people from this congregation participated...
Founding an inter-racial Nursery School at our church with transportation provided for inner-city children...
Passing and publicizing a resolution condemning the Feinberg Law of the McCarthy era which required state employees to certify that they had not had any Communist Party affiliation...
Packing boxes with food and medical supplies for the needy in Russia after the break-up of the Soviet Union...and providing support for nearby migrant workers, and the Council of Churches Food Shelf.

We packed boxes with food and medical supplies for the needy in Russia after the break-up of the Soviet Union... and provide support for nearby migrant workers. Church school students have worked at VIVE helping South American refugees awaiting entrance into Canada.

Currently we have an Economic Task Force and a Social Justice Task Force as well as participating in and supporting VOICE Buffalo. Individuals of the congregation actively involve other congregantsin such community projects as Habitat for Humanity, promoting sustainable agriculture, food pantries, animal rescue and many more charitable endeavors.

We are becoming a Green Sanctuary - dedicated to improving our environment as expressed in our Principles.

In the year 2000 the congregation embarked on a capital campaign and raised over $550,000 to fund renovations which included the expansion of our Emerson room as well as new kitchen facilities and two new fully accessible rest rooms.

Through its history, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst has truly lived up to the goals of our continental association in affirming , defending, and promoting the supreme worth and dignity of every human personality and the use of the democratic method in human relationships.

Learn more about our renewed local commitment to social concerns.

It is truly a Wonderful Church!

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Our newsletter has been divided into two parts for quicker viewing. Part 1 will contain all church faith-related activities, including Sunday sermons, messages from the minister
and religious instruction.
Part 2 will contain all other activities of church life.