Welcome! Let us introduce ourselves. The First Unitarian Universalist Congregation has been an active liberal religious voice in the Ann Arbor community since our founding on May 14, 1865.
We are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our congregation is in the UUA's MidAmerica Region.
We are an intentionally inclusive and supportive religious community of about 650 extremely active members who worship together, work for justice together, laugh together and nurture our children with a UU perspective of our World.
Visitors to UUAA can immediately tell a bit about us from the outward symbols that speak to who we are. The rainbow flag of welcome to people of all gender identities flies from our entryway; Some people refer to our 90 foot tall wind turbine as our steeple; A rotating solar panel stands in the prairie grass in front of the church, collecting renewable solar energy; In back of the church there are walking trails, a colorful children's playground and a memorial garden.
We have a long, rich and rather bold history, starting with our founders who included at least one conductor for the Underground Railroad, through early leaders in women’s rights, to providing a printing press to the very beginnings of labor unions, to playing a key role in the Humanist movement, providing comfort to Japanese citizens during WWII,working to end segregated housing in Ann Arbor in the 60s, providing sanctuary to a family from El Salvador in the 80s, supporting the LGBT community in the 90s, and more recently showing our commitment to clean energy, climate action, racial justice, outreach to immigrants in our community...much more can be learned in the Social Justice section of our web site.
From September of 2014 to May 17th, 2015 we proudly marked our 150th anniversary with a wide variety of activities through the year to celebrate and learn from our "150 Years of Reason and Compassion in Action", "revering our past", but also looking to our dawning future.
For eighty years from 1865-1945 we served as a missionary church to the University of Michigan. In 1865 it was thought that this congregation could "mold the minds of the future leaders of the west". While we no longer have connections to the universities in the area, we enjoy the benefits of the many activities available through the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University in neighboring Ypsilanti.
1882 Unitarian Church on State Street
We have been builders, constructing church buildings in 1882 and 1999 and adding a wing to our Washtenaw Avenue church in 1956. Two of our churches are designated historic buildings. We have called 11 male and one female Senior Minister. While our membership numbers have waxed and waned, we have kept a caring committed liberal religious community together for over 150 years.
This congregation is extremely proud of two of our very active programs, our wonderful Music Ministries and our cradle to grave Spiritual Growth and Development (religious education) programs.
Our children's programming has enthusiastic attendance and committed volunteer staff. Each year our YRUU high school group conducts a Sunday service and in the summer they take a service trip together. Our adult SGD programming has been expanding over the last few years.
Before March of 2020, our Sunday services always included energetic singing and sometimes guest artists or performances by our large Chalice Singer Choir or our Chalice Sparks children's choir. Each Spring, except for 2020 and 2021, we have hosted "The Big Sing" bringing together over 150 voices in a community choir performance.
Explore our website. Sign up for our newsletter. Come to an online Sunday service. Find a welcome in our UUAA community.
Learn more about QuianaDenae Perkins role as UUAA Congregational Life Coordinator