HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The First Unitarian Society of Madison (FUS) is a
Unitarian Universalist Unitarian or Unitarianism may refer to: Christian and Christian-derived theologies A Unitarian is a follower of, or a member of an organisation that follows, any of several theologies referred to as Unitarianism: * Unitarianism (1565–present) ...
congregation in Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin. Its meeting house was designed by
Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright (June 8, 1867 – April 9, 1959) was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements o ...
and built by
Marshall Erdman Marshall Erdman (September 29, 1922 – September 17, 1995) was a Lithuanian-American builder and colleague of Frank Lloyd Wright. Life Early life Erdman was born Mausas Erdmanas on September 29, 1922, in Tverai, Lithuania. He emigrated to the U ...
in 1949–1951, and has been designated a U.S.
National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places liste ...
for its architecture. With over 1,000 members, it is one of the ten largest Unitarian Universalist congregations in the United States.


Beliefs

The First Unitarian Society of Madison is part of the Unitarian Universalist Association and affirms the Seven Principles and Six Sources. The Society also adheres to the Continuing Bond of Union established at their founding in 1879 and reaffirmed in 1980:
"We whose names are hereunto inscribed, desiring a religious organization in the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth, which shall make integrity of life its first aim and leave thought free, associate ourselves together as the First Unitarian Society of Madison and accept to its membership those of whatever theological opinion who wish to unite with us in the promotion of truth, righteousness, reverence, and charity among all. As part of a non-creedal tradition, the First Unitarian Society of Madison welcomes all regardless of creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and ability."


History

The First Unitarian Society of Madison was established in 1879 shortly after the 1878 Session of the Wisconsin Conference of Unitarian & Independent Churches led to a resurgence of the Unitarians in Madison. Influenced greatly by the Reverend
Jenkin Lloyd Jones Jenkin Lloyd Jones (November 14, 1843 – September 12, 1918) was a Unitarian minister in the United States, and also the uncle of Frank Lloyd Wright. He founded All Souls Unitarian Church in Chicago, Illinois, as well as its community outr ...
, a prominent Unitarian minister (and Frank Lloyd Wright's uncle), the early members held that an ethical rather than theological agreement was the hallmark of Unitarianism. The Reverend Henry M. Simmons was called as the Society's first settled minister shortly after its founding, but departed within two years. Shortly after his departure, the Reverend Joseph Henry Crooker took over as the called minister and led the congregation in establishing their first building in 1885 which was designed by Peabody and Sterns of Boston. During Crooker's tenure, the congregation experienced significant growth in their Sunday School program, in addition to establishing the Women's Alliance, the Channing Club (a university student group), the Lend-A-Hand Club, and the Contemporary Club (a current topics discussion group). By 1910 there were 105 pledging units on the roster (a pledging unit can be an individual donor or a family donor), but by 1940 only 48 pledging units were recorded with the decline attributed to dissent among members. In 1941, the Reverend Kenneth Patton was called to serve as minister and the Society's membership nearly doubled in a few years. In 1945, the Society elected to sell their original buildings after receiving a substantial offer for the property originally located downtown Madison, WI. The following year, after much debate, the Society commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design the new Meeting House. Four acres of land in Shorewood Hills, surrounded by few structures and overlooking the University of Wisconsin agricultural fields, was purchased as the new site. The new building opened in 1951. Today, the University of Wisconsin hospital and a busy University Avenue surround the Meeting House. The Reverend Max D. Gaebler served as the settled minister for 35 years. In 1988, the Reverend Michael A. Schuler was called as the settled minister and retired in 2018 after 30 years of dedicated service. Under the leadership and tenures of both the Reverend Gaebler and Schuler, the Society experienced significant growth and presently registers over 1,500 Members and Affiliates. In 2008, a gold-level LEED Certified Atrium addition was built on the campus to accommodate the increase in membership. In 2021, the congregation chose to move from a hierarchical leadership model to a shared ministry model. Rooted in justice and Unitarian Universalist values, this model places equal weight on all aspects of congregational ministry. In May 2021, the congregation called the Rev. Kelly Weisman Asprooth-Jackson to join the Rev. Kelly J. Crocker. Together, they each serve as Co-Senior Minister.


Architecture

The society is housed in the historic Unitarian Meeting House, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of its members and the son of two of its founders. Wright was commissioned to design the Meeting House in 1946. The dramatic result has been variously interpreted as the prow of a ship, a plow cutting through the prairie, and hands folded in prayer. Construction began in 1949 and was completed in 1951. Wright initially estimated $60,000 to build the church, but it cost three times that. To cut the cost, members of the congregation hauled limestone blocks for the walls. The church's "upper meeting house", the original Wright design, is characterized by its prow-like roof, covered with a blue-green standing seam copper, set with a combination of vertical and horizontal seams to emphasize the roof's shape. The roof is supported by an innovative series of hinged-arch trusses built out of two-by-four and two-by-six framing members. There is no ridge pole, although there is the appearance of one both inside and outside; With the roof is effectively supported by the main roof section being counterbalanced by the extended eaves. The system allows for an interior span of without supports. The church building is recognized as one of the most innovative examples of
church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * Chri ...
architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
. In 1960, the
American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to s ...
designated it one of 17 buildings to be retained as an example of Wright's contribution to American culture. The Meeting House was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1973, before the traditional 50-year cutoff for historic buildings. In 2004, it was designated a
National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places liste ...
by the
National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational properti ...
. Additions to the building designed by
Taliesin Associated Architects Taliesin Associated Architects was an architectural firm founded by apprentices of Frank Lloyd Wright to carry on his architectural vision after his death in 1959. The firm disbanded in 2003. It was headquartered at Taliesin West in Scottsdale, A ...
were added in 1965 and 1990. Construction of a major expansion of the FUS campus, designed by Kubala Washatko Architects, was completed in 2008, adding a second, 500-seat auditorium and community spaces. Extensive repairs and restoration were also done on the historic building. This expansion conforms to strict guidelines to leave the historic parts of the grounds unaltered. Wright designed the structure around triangles, and after it was built he wrote: "As the square has always signified integrity and the sphere universality, the triangle stands for aspiration. Here is a church where the whole edifice is in the attitude of prayer." In the early 1970s, the "Friends of the Meeting House" was created in order to manage preservation of the facility. ''Friends of the Meeting House'', Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-stock organization. Its purpose is education, assisting the congregation with preservation projects, and advocating for preservation of the building's unique features. ''Friends of the Meeting House'' has its own website, which focuses on the building's history
Friends of the Meeting House, Inc.


Gallery

UM 1.jpg UM 2.jpg First Unitarian Society Meeting Atrium Walkway - panoramio.jpg First Unitarian Society Meeting House - panoramio (1).jpg First Unitarian Society Meeting Landmark Building - panoramio.jpg First Unitarian Society Meeting Office Hallway - panoramio.jpg First Unitarion Society of Madison Interior & Furniture.jpg Interior of First Unitarian Meeting House Atrium - panoramio.jpg First Unitarian Society of Madison Wisconsin Interior.jpg


See also

*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Dane County, Wisconsin This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Dane County, Wisconsin. It aims to provide a comprehensive listing of buildings, sites, structures, districts, and objects in Dane County, Wisconsin listed on the Nationa ...
*
List of National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin This is a list of National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. National Historic Landmarks are designated by the U.S. National Park Service, which recognizes buildings, structures, districts, objects, and sites which satisfy certa ...


References


Further reading

* Storrer, William Allin (2006). ''The Frank Lloyd Wright Companion''. University of Chicago Press. (S.291).


External links


First Unitarian Society of Madison Website
* The Wisconsin Historical Society has some photos online of the building under construction
Congregation Sorting StonesUnitarian Meeting House TrussesUnitarian Meeting House Construction
{{Authority control Churches in Dane County, Wisconsin Frank Lloyd Wright buildings Unitarian Universalist churches in Wisconsin Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Wisconsin National Historic Landmarks in Wisconsin Religious buildings and structures completed in 1951 Tourist attractions in Dane County, Wisconsin National Register of Historic Places in Dane County, Wisconsin