First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia
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First Unitarian Church
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| Location | 2125 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Coordinates | 39°57′8.67″N 75°10′36.8″W / 39.9524083°N 75.176889°WCoordinates: 39°57′8.67″N 75°10′36.8″W / 39.9524083°N 75.176889°W |
| Built | 1886 |
| Architect | Frank Furness |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Other |
| NRHP Reference # | 71000724 |
| Added to NRHP | May 27, 1971 |
The First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia is a Unitarian Universalist congregation located at 2125 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a regional Community Center it sponsors cultural, educational, civic, wellness and spiritual activities.
On June 12, 1796, twenty of Philadelphia's intellectual leaders formed the First Unitarian Society of Philadelphia, becoming the first continuously functioning church in the country to name itself "Unitarian". The founders were directed and encouraged by the Unitarian minister Joseph Priestley, and its first settled minister was the Rev. Dr. William Henry Furness.
The small but growing congregation was lay-led until 1825, when Rev. Dr. William Henry Furness was persuaded to serve as the first minister at the age of 22. Starting in the 1830s, Furness became one of the few abolitionist ministers in the city, known for his anti-slave sermons and Underground Railroad activities. His speeches were so impassioned that both he and the congregation feared reprisals from Southern sympathizers, so several members of the church quietly armed themselves and watched over the pulpit on Sundays. His attacks on the Fugitive Slave Law drew discussion in one of President Buchanan's cabinet meetings of indicting the minister for treason. Furness served as minister for 50 years, and remained involved in the church until his death in 1898.
The Octagon Building (begun March 1812, dedicated February 14, 1813): The first church building, located at the northeast corner of 10th & Locust, was designed by Robert Mills, thought to be the first native-born-and-trained American architect. Its octagonal shape was unusual for Philadelphia, however it followed the pattern of Unitarian churches in England. These typically used an octagon design in a symbolic move away from the traditional cross-shaped floor plans of orthodox Christian churches. The construction cost was approximately $25,000 at the time and seated 300 people.
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