Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield
Springfield VT

The Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield has been a voice for liberal religion for over 200 years.

We are a welcoming and supportive community for people of all ages. We value the open mind and encourage each person to question and develop their own faith. We love a warm heart and generous spirit. Together, we seek the creation of a more loving and just world, and aspire to live sustainably on the Earth.

Our Beliefs

Our Affirmation

Love is the doctrine of this church The quest of truth is its sacrament And service is its prayer To dwell together in peace, To seek knowledge in freedom, To serve human need, To the end that all souls shall Grow into harmony with the Divine- – Thus do we covenant with each other And with the source of our being

Unitarian Universalist Principles and Sources

We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition we share draws from many sources:

Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life;

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves; warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;

Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

 

http://uuspringfieldvt.org  

 

Our History

The Church of the Good Shepherd, our second home, was built in 1833 as a Union Church serving both Universalists and Episcopalians. Town meetings and events were held there until the adjacent Town Hall was built in 1857. It became the First Universalist Society in 1869. In 1971, we sold the building to the town of Springfield and prepared to build our new home at 21 Fairground Road.

Parker Hill

The first Universalists in the area lived on Parker Hill and in Rockingham. In 1792, they sought to hold services in Rockingham Meeting House and were refused. Four years later, they were finally allowed to worship there. In 1805, a brick meeting house with a short steeple was built on Parker Hill, possibly the second Universalist meeting house built in the United States. It included a smaller room which served for a time as the local school. The building is long gone and the site is now marked as a historic site. Once a year, we gather at Parker Hill for a service and a picnic.

Parker Hill Cemetery and Ash Garden

Behind the site of the first Universalist Meeting House is the historic cemetery. Our church maintains space there for cremated remains to be interred, as well, as an ash garden. Acquisition of lots is with the approval of the Board of Trustees. The ash garden is marked by a large stone where 3” x 5” engraved may be attached at the expense of the family. The Cemetery Committee maintains a chart. Parker Hill is reached by taking South St. to Scrabble Four Corners and then Parker Hill Rd for approximately two miles. The lot is on the right side of the road.