Highlights of the History of Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church

1955-2005

1955

• The Remington, Howard and Johnson families place a notice in Hollin Hills Bulletin announcing the possibility of beginning a Unitarian church.
• The first meetings with the Reverend A. Powell Davies take place at the Girls Friendly Society. Bob Wasson serves as liaison between All Souls and the Mount Vernon “Center.”
• Charter Sunday for the Mount Vernon Center of All Souls Unitarian Church is September 25, 1955. The first worship service is held in the Girls Friendly Society House. Nearly one hundred people join.
• Meetings begin in the Hollin Hills Elementary School and arrangements are made to have sermons by Reverend Davies piped in by telephone from the All Souls Unitarian Church, Washington, DC.

1957

• MVUC is chartered formally as a Unitarian Church with the American Unitarian Association.
• The Reverend Ernest Sommerfeld of Springfield, Massachusetts called as first settled minister, 1957 -63.

1959

• The Congregation purchases the top ten acres of the Merle Thorpe estate. Initial cost: $150,000.
• The Fort Hunt Nursery School is organized. Boxwood Concerts with nationally known performers begin.

1960

• Church is criticized by the Washington Post for substituting a sledding party for services on a snowy Sunday.

1961

• MVUC houses the Congress on Race Equality (CORE) training institute. Board of Trustees is threatened with legal action by Fairfax County.

1962

• MVUC receives the Holmes Weatherly Award by the Unitarian Universalist Association for its work with CORE.

1963

• John Wells, a student for the ministry at Howard University, moves family onto hill and begins preaching.
• Two sessions of worship and religious education begin.
• Members participate in the People’s March on Washington, DC.

1964

• John Wells ordained by MVUC to Unitarian Universalist ministry and settled as second minister, 1964 – 68.
• MVUC mobilizes efforts to aid residents of Gum Springs with regard to housing, sanitation needs, and the establishment of a community center.

1965

• Reverend Wells joins other Unitarian Universalist ministers in answering Dr. Martin Luther King’s call to come to Selma, Alabama. MVUC participates in inter-racial work in order to pass landmark civil rights legislation.
• Congregation votes to remain on the hill after Mason Hill developer offers a lot on Fort Hunt Road in exchange.

1968

• Church provides support for the Poor People’s Campaign and initiates project with Fort Belvoir to establish open housing in area rentals.

1969

• The Reverend David Bumbaugh is settled as the Congregation’s third minister, 1969 -84.
• MVUC’s hilltop becomes a haven for the counterculture; members form a security patrol to guard the Church.
• Church participates in nationwide service calling for a Moratorium on the war in Vietnam.

1970

• Church provides housing and bail money for Anti-War demonstrators.

1971

• Church initiates life-span, intergenerational religious education concept.
• Margaret Odell is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.

1974

• Church daughter, Marianne Politte, is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.

1975

• Meadville-Lombard Theological School student William Holway serves his internship at MVUC.

1976

• Church daughter, Lisa Wiggins, is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.

1977

• Beverly Bumbaugh is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry; begins a “co-ministry”

1977 -84

• Meadville Lombard Theological School student Donna Morrison serves her internship and is ordained in 1979.

1980

• Church member Eric Bovet is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.
• MVUC helps found the Accotink Unitarian Universalist congregation in Burke-Springfield, Virginia.

1981

• The Chapel is dedicated to Joseph Remington.
• Church daughter, Wendy Colby, is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.

1983

• Congregation sells nearly three acres, including the old Chapel, and breaks ground for new Meeting House.

1984

• A Service of Passage moves the Congregation from the old Chapel to temporary quarters in Hollin Hall.
• Construction begins on the new Meeting House.
• The Reverend Betty Jo Middleton is called as the church’s Minister of Religious Education
• The Reverend Judith Walker-Riggs is appointed Interim Minister.

1985

• The Meeting House is dedicated in March.

1986

• The Reverend Kenneth Gordon Hurto of Des Moines, Iowa, is installed as the fourth settled minister, 1986 – 2000.
• The Reverend Betty Jo Middleton is also installed as Minister of Religious Education, 1986 -90.

1987

• Church takes turn housing and feeding area homeless and begins an on-going effort for low-cost housing.

1989

• Church becomes a member of Unitarian Universalist Affordable Housing Coalition.

1990

• Linda Olson Peebles is appointed as Director of Religious Education.

1991

• Starr King School of Religion student Marlene Walker serves her internship at MVUC.

1992

• Church houses participants for National March for Women’s Lives.
• Church hosts Spring Concert for Affordable Housing.
• Forrest Tobey appointed Music Director.

1993

• MVUC formally votes to become a Welcoming Congregation.

1994

• The Memorial Walks are installed and dedicated.
• MVUC joins the Alexandria Campagna Center to transform Hollin Hall into the Decorator Showhouse.

1997

• Linda Olson Peebles is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry and is called by MVUC to be Minister of Religious Education,

1997 -2000.

• Gail Collins-Ranadive is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.

1999

• Concerts to benefit the Bryant Early Learning Center of United Community Ministries begin.

2000

• Through generous bequests of members, the windmill is restored as a symbol of our hill.
• Mount Vernon Unitarian Church enters cyberspace with its web site, www.mvuc.org.
• Ministerial intern, Ellen Spero, is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.
• The Reverend Walter Braman is appointed Interim Minister.
• Janice Fitzpatrick is appointed Interim Religious Education Administrator.

2002

• Hope Stallings Andonovska is appointed Director of Religious Education (2002 -2004).

2003

• Congregation votes to undertake a $300,000+ renovation of Hollin Hall including improved access, kitchen renovation and air conditioning and to pursue exploration of an addition to the Meeting House.
• The Reverend Louis Schwebius of New York City is installed as the fifth settled minister.
• Dr. Forrest Tobey resigns as Music Director. Mark Zimmerman is appointed Music Director.
• After the completion of renovation work, Hollin Hall is rededicated on the hill.

2004

• Barbara Gay Stoddard is appointed Interim Director of Religious Education.

2005

• Church member, Stephen Phinney, is ordained by MVUC to the Unitarian Universalist ministry.
• Michael O’Brien is appointed Music Director of MVUC.
• The garden gates are restored by the Memorial Walks Members.
• Mt. Vernon Unitarian Church celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first church service.

2006

• Meagan Henry is appointed Director of Religious Education.
• Michael O'Brien resigns, and Melodie Feather is appointed interim Music Director.

2007

• The Reverend Louis Schwebius resigns, and a search for a new minister begins.

The information for this informal history was derived from that provided in the order of service for the 40th anniversary in 1995 and by members’ recollections.