Preserving Our History

The Unitarian Church of All Souls NYC was founded on November 15th, 1819. From its humble beginnings in a downtown parlor to its rise as a flagship of Unitarian Universalism, it has been a beacon for liberal religious thinking for more than two centuries. The story of our congregation is deeply entwined with the history of New York City itself.

The Historical Society encourages research by collecting and preserving the congregation’s records and artifacts, and by making them accessible to all who are interested. Our digital archives include the minutes of the All Souls Board of Trustees meetings from 1819 through 1970, Annual Meeting minutes from 1922 to 1990, and much, much more.

If you would like to learn more about the history of All Souls or become a member, please get in touch!

The 2025 Bellows Lecture

“Reconstructing Our Unitarian History: Perils and Possibilities” by Rev. Wayne Arnason

Drawing on new research in historical renovation, this lecture explored whether reconstructing our faith’s history as values change requires tearing down old stories, using as a case study the relationship between All Souls Church ministers and Rev. Egbert Ethelred Brown of Harlem’s Unitarian Church (1937-1956), presented by retired UU minister and historian Rev. Dr. Wayne Arnason on May 16, 2025.

To learn more or view previous Bellows Lectures, visit the Historical Society website!

Learn More

If you love history and want to meet a wonderful group of history buffs, then the Historical Society is the right place for you. Besides preserving the congregation’s records, we organize interesting lectures, publish books and an occasional newsletter, and maintain a website.

The Historical Society manages a seperate website full of rich and interesting information about All Souls’ past and present. Visit the site at the link below!