About us
Old Ship welcomes and affirms persons of diverse backgrounds and interests, regardless of race, class, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or political belief.
Our community encourages personal spiritual growth through worship, discussion, mutual support, and friendship. Although as a congregation we do not adhere to a specific creed, we do affirm the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Principles and Sources, and we support each individual's unique search for truth and meaning.
Our meetinghouse has stood on Main Street since 1681. It is the oldest wooden building in the United States used continuously for ecclesiastic purposes, and it is the only meetinghouse built in the 17th century that still exists.
The first members of our congregation were Puritans. They began an evolution toward liberalism in the years between 1717 and 1787, when Ebenezer Gay served as their minister, until, in the early 1800s, they embraced Unitarianism. In 1961, Unitarians merged with Universalists.
Our Old Ship Covenant
As a congregation committed to Unitarian Universalist principles, we join with one another in the spirit of respect, reverence, humility, and love:
- To seek truth freely,
- To nurture spiritual growth and ethical commitment,
- To care for one another,
- And, seeking justice, peace, and ecological sustainability,
- to serve life.
