Ponder for a moment the bold concrete structure before you. This is the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington. It stands as a testament to progressive ideals. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington is not just a building. It’s a landmark of faith and social action.
Founded in 1948 the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington was the first of its kind in Washington D.C.’s suburbs. Imagine a time when speaking out for racial integration was a radical act. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington was the only church in Virginia to do so during the Civil Rights Movement.
Charles M. Goodman designed this sanctuary in 1964. His Brutalist design is a statement. It reflects the congregation’s forward-thinking spirit. The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington is one of only three churches Goodman designed. It is the only one in Virginia.
In the early 1940s All Souls Church in D.C. encouraged suburban members to start their own communities. The Unitarian Church of Arlington was the first. Early meetings took place in homes and community spaces. Gilbert A. Phillips from All Souls became the Arlington church’s minister in 1946.
By 1948 the congregation had grown. Members voted to establish their own independent church. They affiliated with the American Unitarian Association. A permanent meeting place was needed. A lot was purchased at Arlington Boulevard and South George Mason Drive.
In November 1948 ground broke on the church’s first building. Architect Earl B. Bailey designed a brick Colonial Revival building. It included an auditorium a kitchen an office and meeting rooms. The first service was in June 1949.
The Arlington church’s success inspired All Souls minister Arthur Powell Davies. He established the Greater Washington Association for Unitarian Advance in 1950. This organization helped start other Unitarian congregations.
A religious education wing was added in 1953. The church was quickly reaching its capacity. The congregation began holding two services on Sundays. More land was purchased and a parsonage was built in 1958.
By 1959 the Arlington church was the largest of eight Unitarian congregations in the suburbs. Plans for a new facility began. Charles M. Goodman was chosen to design it. The congregation wanted a building that reflected their liberal beliefs. They wanted it to signify the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington’s leadership.
Goodman’s design was completed in 1961. Construction of the sanctuary began. The dedication took place on March 22 1964. Dana McLean Greeley delivered the sermon.
In the mid-to-late 1960s attendance declined. The church replaced its minister and started a campaign to attract new members. By 1974 membership had grown again.
In 1993 members approved an addition to the sanctuary. Kerns Group Architects designed the new wing. It included classrooms office space a chapel and meeting rooms. An additional expansion was added in 2013.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington’s sanctuary was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington has a long history of activism. In 1949 the church operated a summer camp open to all races. During the 1950s it was a place where black and white people discussed race relations. In 1951 the church’s minister founded an interracial interfaith group.
In 1956 the church received a letter of gratitude from Martin Luther King Jr. After the Supreme Court decision Bolling v. Sharpe the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington was the only Virginia church to support integration.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington is more than just a building. It’s a symbol of faith justice and community. It stands as a beacon of progressive values in Arlington.