Mission

The Unitarian Universalist Society Of Laconia exists to foster liberal religion, promote a reverence for truth, encourage spiritual and intellectual growth within the society and community, provide education in the ways of liberal religious tradition, and challenge each other to express our beliefs in action. We therefore commit to provide a safe space with an open and affirming atmosphere in which each person's inherent worth and dignity is respected.

History

Our congregation was originally organized as the First Universalist Society on July 19, 1838, by twenty-three charter members. Its first meeting house was erected on Union Avenue in Laconia.

In 1867 the Society was reorganized and became the First Unitarian Society. Its new building on Main and Hanover Streets stood as a community landmark and served the congregation until it was destroyed by fire in 1938. The present building on Pleasant Street was dedicated on September 22, 1940; the rebuilt chancel was dedicated June 18, 1944.

After the merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America in May of 1961, the congregation changed its name to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Laconia. The original articles of organization, written for this church in 1838, contained the following preamble: "Liberality in opinion is universally acknowledged...as a generous and amiable trait in the character of the individual; if it gives loveliness to the secular concerns of people why should it not be permitted to add grace and luster to religion?".