Foothills Unitarian Church History
Unitarianism has roots extending back to the mid-16th century in eastern Europe. Universalism developed in late 18th century America. These two faiths independently developed a strong tradition of personal choice in matters of religious faith, belief in the inherent worth of humanity, and commitment to social justice. In 1961, the two denominations merged to form the Unitarian Universalist Association. More about history of UUs and the UUA can be found at Unitarian Universalist History.
South College Avenue
The Foothills Unitarian Church has local roots extending back more than 105 years. The original Unity Church (Unitarian) was formed in 1898 following about five years of tireless promotion by the Rev. Anna Jane Norris, by members of the faculty of the agricultural college and reform elements in the community. These people were influenced by social and civic developments in the nearby town of Greeley, which were guided by the Union Colony (a stock company chartered to develop the area into agricultural land). The church had initially petitioned to affiliate with the Universalists but due to financial considerations, it eventually affiliated with the Unitarians.
The Congregational-Unitarian Church was formed in 1931 when Unity Church (Unitarian) and the First Congregational Church joined in a "cooperative enterprise" to insure the survival of liberal religion in Fort Collins. That church was dissolved in 1968 to form the present Foothills Unitarian Church and Plymouth Congregational Church (our friends and neighbors on Prospect Road).
One may find more of the story of this church as well as that of the college (Colorado State University) and the city in a self published article, The Unitarians in Fort Collins, by Arthur T. Corey. This article may be obtained in the church office.