History

1980

Starr King Unitarian Universalist Fellowship had its beginning on a snowy afternoon when eighteen adults gathered in response to a newspaper ad. Two months later the Fellowship was admitted to membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association, with twenty-four charter members.

1986

Arthur Vaeni, a Harvard Divinity Student, became our part-time minister. The Reverend Vaeni was ordained in 1987, and in 1989 he became our full-time minster, serving until June 2001.

1994

The Fellowship’s eighty-three members celebrated the groundbreaking for a new building which was proudly dedicated in November of that year. Members provided considerable “sweat equity” over the next few years as the finish work proceeded.

2003

The Reverend Sarah C. Stewart became the second minister of Starr King Fellowship in 2003, serving until 2014. Continued growth through Rev. Stewart’s ministry prompted a large addition to the Fellowship meeting house in 2010, and new young families and children to our Fellowship.

2003

The labyrinth was created the summer of 2003 by then member, Marcia Vandermast, and many other Fellowship members as helpers. Stones were brought in to line the paths, dirt moved around, and greenery trimmed. Services have been held there, meditation groups and individuals meditate while walking the paths, and children run there! If viewed from the back parking lot, it is on the land to the left of the Fellowship building. It can be reached via a path between the back parking lot and the building.

2014

Starr King Fellowship was served by interim minister, the Reverend Judith Smith-Valley, ably assisting our transition process.

2016

It was with great joy that the members of the Fellowship voted unanimously in May 2016 to call the Reverend Dr. Linda Barnes as our new Minister. Linda received a PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology in 1994 and has taught at the college level for many years.

2020

April 26, 2020 marked the 40th anniversary of our membership in the Unitarian Universalist Association. The March celebration included the dedication and renaming of the Fellowship Hall to Macey Hall to honor Ruth and Irv Macey, founding members. The picture is of their children, Suzy Farrell and Peter Macey.