First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia

William Henry Furness

The small but growing congregation was lay-led until 1825, when Rev. Dr. William Henry Furness was persuaded to serve as the first minister at the age of 22. Starting in the 1830s, Furness became one of the few abolitionist ministers in the city, known for his anti-slave sermons and Underground Railroad activities. His speeches were so impassioned that both he and the congregation feared reprisals from Southern sympathizers, so several members of the church quietly armed themselves and watched over the pulpit on Sundays. His attacks on the Fugitive Slave Law drew discussion in one of President Buchanan's cabinet meetings of indicting the minister for treason. Furness served as minister for 50 years, and remained involved in the church until his death in 1898.

First building (1813-1828)

The Octagon Building (begun March 1812, dedicated February 14, 1813): The first church building, located at the northeast corner of 10th & Locust, was designed by Robert Mills, thought to be the first native-born-and-trained American architect. Its octagonal shape was unusual for Philadelphia, however it followed the pattern of Unitarian churches in England. These typically used an octagon design in a symbolic move away from the traditional cross-shaped floor plans of orthodox Christian churches. The construction cost was approximately $25,000 at the time and seated 300 people.

Second building (1828-1885)

The Doric Building (dedicated November 5, 1828): Desiring a larger and more elegant building to reflect the growth of the congregation, church members voted to construct yet another facility. Using the same location (10th & Locust), the cornerstone of the "Doric Building" was laid on March 24, 1828. Designed by William Strickland, this building was described in contemporary books as one of the most outstanding churches in the city. Dedicated on November 5, 1828, this remained the congregation's worship space until moving to the present site at 2125 Chestnut Street in 1885.

Third building (1885-present)

Frank Furness, the architect of The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and son of the Church's first minister, designed the current church building. Begun in 1883, dedicated in 1885, and completed in 1886, the sanctuary features a hammer-beam ceiling, painted rust red and stenciled with gold-leaf daffodils, which is complemented by blue walls. The church's stained glass windows are by Louis Tiffany & Co. and John La Farge. Later additions include a concert-grade Casavant pipe organ with 3 manuals and 50 ranks. In addition to the sanctuary, the building also contains a basement level housing Griffin Hall, which includes a stage and commercial-size kitchen. The rear portion of the building contains the Parish Room for meetings, and a smaller chapel. The mezzanine and 3rd floors contain a variety of offices, meeting rooms, storage, and daycare facilities.

Notable members

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, the first woman of African descent to have her writings published in the United States, was a member of First Church from 1870 until her death in 1911. She is best known for her fiction and poetry, but was also a political activist and lecturer who promoted, civil rights, temperance, and women's rights.

Laura Matilda Towne, was one of the first Northern women to go south to work with freed slaves. Towne opened the Penn School, the first school for freedmen, while the Civil War was raging. Unlike most of those who went south at the time, Laura Towne made a life for herself on St. Helena Island, South Carolina, and ran the Penn School until her death in 1901.

Kevin Bacon was raised at the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia and had his first acting debut in a holiday pageant.

Notable events

The day after John Brown was executed, his body came to Philadelphia for a private vigil attended by William Henry Furness, then was taken to North Elba, New York, and buried. National Archivist, V. Chapman-Smith writes, "A supporter of John Brown, who reached out to provide comfort and aid to Brown’s wife, Furness was a prominent speaker at the Philadelphia “Martyr Day” (December 2, 1859) vigil at National Hall. Furness’ zeal against the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law captured attention at one of President Buchanan’s cabinet meetings, where consideration was given to indicting Furness for treason!"

When Martin Luther King Jr. was a seminary student in nearby Chester, Pennsylvania, he attended a lecture about how Mohandas K. Gandhi integrated Henry David Thoreau's theory of non-violent civil disobedience that inspired King's non-violent protests for civil rights. This lecture is reputed to have taken place at the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia.

In April 2006, the church officially became a "Welcoming Congregation" to the bisexual, transgender, lesbian, and gay community. In 2007, Nathan C. Walker became its first openly gay minister.

In July 2010, executives from Monsanto visited the church to discuss the adoption of a code of ethics for the field of biotechnology, a sort of Hippocratic oath, akin to a doctor's pledge to "do no harm".

In February 2016, as part of a nationwide effort among UU congregations, the congregation unanimously adopted the following statement of support for the Black Lives Matter movement:

In line with our commitment to affirming the inherent worth and dignity of all people, we, the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, declare that black lives matter. We support the Black Lives Matter movement and pledge our congregation’s dedication to participating in anti-racist, anti-oppression work within our own community; to acknowledging our denomination’s and our congregation’s checkered racial history; and to serving as allies, witnesses, and partners in our country’s continued struggle for racial justice and equity.

A corresponding banner was installed on the church porch, facing out to Chestnut Street.