Welcome to The First Universalist Church
in Providence

A warm, traditional congregation of believers in the heart of historic Downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Whether you are visiting the area, looking for a church home, or simply interested in what we do, we invite you to join us for Sunday worship (weekly at 10:30 a.m.) and our special seasonal services throughout the year.

WELCOME GUIDE FOR VISITORS

   
Ecumenical liturgical worship welcoming Christians of all backgrounds

OUR SUNDAY SERVICE 
Our service follows the prayer book tradition, and we use the Book of Prayer, the hymnal, and the Bible during worship.  Everything is noted in the order of service.  It may be a little confusing your first time here, but after a few times it will become familiar—and it even starts to grow on you.  The hymn numbers are on the Hymn Board at the front of the Sanctuary, and also in the order of service. We have Holy Communion the first Sunday of every month, and on other special holidays.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sunday Worship & Church School at 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. (At 9:30 a.m. during the summer)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What do you offer for children? 
Child care is offered for small children for the whole service, at the discretion of their parents.  Children of any age are always welcome in church.  We realize that for children at the wiggly stage, it may be easier for their parents to worship if their children are otherwise occupied.

Older children may stay with their parents for the beginning of the service, and then they have Sunday School downstairs.

Will I fit in?
If you are exploring your faith, looking to return to a church, are already a Christian but seeking a new church, or are simply intrigued by what we offer, you are most welcome here. 

We believe everyone is a child of God, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ involves everyone, and that as a result everyone has something to offer.  So we say on our signs that we’re “always seeking new friends.”

How do I join?
Membership Applications are out on the Literature Table downstairs in the Church Hall.  Ask the Pastor if you have any questions.  

Are you part of the Unitarian Church?
We became part of the Unitarian Universalist Association when the two bodies combined in 1961. It was a decentralized, locally-governed consolidation; each congregation can vary greatly from one to the next. Here, we remain a Universalist Christian church with a continuing Trinitarian and ecumenical tradition of worship.

Why are you called “Universalist”?
The Universalist Church began in America in the 1770s (out of a variety of denominational backgrounds), teaching that, in Jesus Christ, God means (eventually) for everyone to be saved: in other words, Universal Salvation. We were founded in 1821.

How do I reach you?
Leave a message for the Pastor at the Church number, (401) 751-1821.  He checks the messages several times a day, and will return your call. 

Are there local service opportunities?
We’re a founding member of PICA, the Providence Intown Churches Association, and active on its Board. The downtown churches run a Friday night soup kitchen together, and collect and distribute nonperishable foods to those in need. PICA’s offices are in our Church Hall area.  We also make food donations a regular part of the church offering during our morning service on the second Sunday of each month, and contribute to other local organizations.

How old is the Church building?
It was built and first dedicated in 1872, and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1977. At the time, this was a residential neighborhood outside the downtown area.  The current building, a beautiful and warm Victorian Gothic structure and windows, is the Church’s third one, containing some of the oldest American-made stained glass windows in the USA.

IMPORTANT LOCATIONS

Sanctuary: Up the stairs from the main entrance on Washington and Greene Streets, or up the staircase off the Parlor.  If you have limited mobility, there is a stair lift available.

Chapel area: In front of the Sanctuary Pulpit.

Church Hall: Downstairs, a left turn off the front lobby as you exit the Sanctuary: Church Office & PICA Food Pantry & Office.

Dining Room: Downstairs, across the Church Hall; between the Parlor and the Sunday School Room.

Sunday School & Child Care: In the Church School Room off the Dining Room.

Parlor: Next to the Dining Room. There is a side door on Washington Street that can be used for direct access to the Parlor.

Women’s Room: Through the Parlor, at the back of the building.  Look for the signs.

Men’s Room: At the front of the building, underneath the front staircases. Look for the signs.

Kitchen: Behind the Dining Room.

Fellowship Hour: In the Dining Room downstairs. Exit the Sanctuary towards the big Washington Street doors, and go left down the next set of stairs, through the doors, across the Church Hall and Office area.

Lenten Schedule

"The Pastor's Study"