Another important step in our congregation's history came in 1820. Our minister was Rev. John Bartlett, a progressive thinker with an avid commitment to social action. His efforts prior to coming to our church in 1811 led directly to the creation of Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital for the treatment of mental illness. He also established two "Sunday Schools" in Boston.

William Ellery Channing's manifesto-serrnon on "Unitarian Christianity" was delivered in Baltimore in May, 1819. In 1820, Rev. Bartlett (who had studied with Charming as a young man) gave a series of sermons on successive Sundays in which he shared his understanding of Unitarian Christianity and expressed his support of the Unitarian cause.

As in many long-established Massachusetts churches, the controversy over whether to affiliate with Unitarianism was heated and painful. Nonetheless, when the vote was called, three out of four Marblehead parishioners chose to follow the lead of their minister. We have been a part of the Unitarian movement ever since.

Recent history

With the merger of Unitarians and Universalists in 1961, our church changed its name from Second Congregational Church (Unitarian) to its present name -the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead.

The next few decades proved to be an up-and-down experience for our congregation. A positive and lasting legacy from that time is the me & thee coffeehouse, still one of the most fruitful sources of new members for the church in its 36th season.

The `sixties, however, saw the emergence of several divisive issues, creating faultlines within the Marblehead church, not unlike those experienced by many UU congregations in those years. The church took an active anti-Vietnam War stand. A theater group grew to be so active that for some time the church was popularly identified less as a spiritual enterprise and more as a center for the arts.

The 90's brought stability back to the church. Rev. Charles Wilson served us for eight productive years, until his retirement in 1998. Charles, now our Minister Emeritus, was succeeded by Rev. Mary Harrington, whose energy, vision and spiritual understanding continued our Church's growth.

One of the most significant developments during Mary's tenure was our emergence as an enthusiastic "Welcoming Congregation." Nearly 18% of our parishioners identify themselves as GLBTs and are active participants in a wide range of church activities.

After two successive successful ministries, we are a vital and centered congregation with trust in the "dawning future" and a clear sense of our religious mission.

We are eager to continue to grow and deepen our spiritual community with the woman or man who will be our next minister - our 35th.

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