The First Unitarian Society of Ithaca

OUR HISTORY begins with the first gathering of Unitarians in Ithaca on October 15, 1865, about the same time as the historic founding of Cornell University. In fact, Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White both encouraged the establishment of an enlightened, forward-looking church in the community. The American Unitarian Association in Boston, which was exploring ways to expand beyond New England, also thought Ithaca was a community ripe for a liberal church. (Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White were regular in their attendance but neither joined the church.)

Guest ministers were invited to speak in Ithaca beginning in October of 1865. The community response was positive, and the Church of Christian Unity, as our church was first called, was established in July of 1866.

This first church began holding its services in various locations around Ithaca. In 1873, our first building was erected at the corner of Terrace Place and East Buffalo Street, one block east of the present site, where a number of ministers, most notably Mr. Cornell's close friend, Rufus P. Stebbins, encouraged substantial congregational development. (For a brief time during these years, James Smith Bush, great-great-grandfather of President George W. Bush taught Sunday School in that structure.)

Early in 1893, the church was destroyed by a fire blamed on an overturned oil burner used to warm rehearsals by the Ithaca Conservatory of Music (later Ithaca College). Plans were immediately made to build another church, at our present home. William Henry Miller, the renowned Ithaca architect, donated his design services in memory of his mother. Originally, the church was to have a pyramidal roof, but a tall steeple was erected instead so that students could not miss seeing it! The first public concert featuring faculty and staff of the Ithaca Music Conservatory, now Ithaca College, was held in that new building. (Local tradition has it that the Unitarian minister, John M. Scott, invented and named the "ice cream sundae" during those years.)

The first decades of the twentieth century accomplished limited growth. The years following the Second World War, however, initiated a period of remarkable development. During this time, the congregation tripled in size, constructed an annex to its building, and purchased the house next door for additional church school programming.

During the past two decades, the church leadership and membership have continued to make liberal religion vital in Ithaca. Traditional programs have been continued, the participation and opportunities in educational activities have increased, and services to the congregation have been enhanced. To meet our continuing requirements, the church's facilities were enlarged, modernized, and made more convenient during a comprehensive renovation program which was completed in 1992, in time for our Cornerstone Centennial Celebration in October of 1993..

In May of 2000 the congregation voted to purchase the adjacent building (208 E. Buffalo St.) and its renovation was completed in the winter of 2001-02.