History

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Bennington (UUFB) began its history in 1959 as a lay-led group in the humanist tradition. As a Fellowship, it was part of a national effort to create congregations where the critical mass with professional leadership might not be feasible. It has moved toward shared ministry with a more robust attention to spiritual practice. 

 In its first several years, the Fellowship grew quickly from a few founding members to a membership of 35, with a weekly service and a Sunday school. Membership, however, declined, and in September 1972 the group moved its meetings to the first and third Sundays of the month, from September to June.  Members were a tight-knit extended family. Services were largely lectures and discussions.

 From that point the group slowly grew. By the mid-1990s, attendance was about 18–20 at services. During that period a piano and new hymnals were purchased, and a more regular order of service was established. The Fellowship developed a relationship with the Rev. William Baughan, of nearby Pittsfield, MA, who began to preach four times a year, then six, and then eight. With Rev. Baughan’s input and encouragement, the Fellowship instituted changes including drafting a new mission statement, meeting weekly, strengthening the religious education program, and passing the collection basket. Membership grew, as did the commitment of members to a broader range of activities. Weekly attendance climbed to the mid-20s, then high 20s, and then 30 persons by 2001.

For many years the Fellowship avoided involvement in social action programs. Its members, however, were involved in founding the Bennington adult literacy program, initiating recycling in Bennington, and helping to found Hospice of Bennington County. In 2003 the Fellowship identified the Homeless Shelter as a focus of its local social action efforts. Work parties, baskets of basic household supplies, monetary donations, and grants written by UUFB members helped the Shelter with its transitional housing project.

In 2003 the Fellowship’s members undertook a systematic self-study and began discussing the changes necessary for sustained growth, including the possibility of moving out of borrowed space into a building of its own. In the spring of 2005 two longtime members offered the Fellowship a challenge, which it accepted: they would provide the building located at 108 School Street, just off Main Street in downtown Bennington, for a minimal cost basis for two years. The challenge also required that a quarter-time minister be retained and an annual canvass be held. 

During the summer and fall of 2005, members invested more than 700 hours of labor, gutting and refurbishing the building with a focus on creating a practical, versatile, attractive, and energy-efficient space. The other project that summer was advertising for, interviewing for, and contracting with a consulting minister. In October 2005 the Fellowship established a quarter-time consulting ministry relationship with Dr. Will Saunders. In December 2005 the Fellowship moved into the School Street Meetinghouse. During that time, our emphasis shifted to improving the quality of our worship services, improving programming for its members and for the larger community, and strengthening the organization. By February of 2006 our membership had increased to 49 members. In November 2007 a capital campaign raised nearly $100,000 to purchase the Meetinghouse. At a special meeting of the membership on February 11, 2007, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to purchase the building the Fellowship has called “home” for the past 15 years. 

By 2010, membership reached a high of 75.  Rev. Saunders was able to provide a consulting ministry of a quality that far surpassed our dreams and expectations. After two years he was followed by the Rev. Erica Baron, who also served the Rutland church. During her five years we increased ministry from quarter-time to three-eighths and became a Welcoming Congregation (welcoming to the LGBTQ community). In September 2013 the Rev. Lucy Ijams joined us as half-time minister with a focus on increasing ministry to individual members and promoting adult programming. In September 2017 the Rev. Kathy Duhon, who had retired from the ministry, agreed to serve our congregation for two years. In fall 2019 the Rev. Barbara Threet joined the Fellowship as 3/8th-time minister.

During the COVID-19 pandemic the Fellowship held virtual services and continues to provide remote access.