We Are Rutland UU
Rutland’s Unitarian Universalist Congregation
We join in spiritual exploration, individually and together. Each of us, in our own way, seeks personal growth, connection, and a more just world.
We are brave, curious, and compassionate thinkers and doers. We are diverse in faith, ethnicity, history ,and spirituality, but aligned in our desire to make a difference for the good. We have a track record of standing on the side of love, justice, and peace.
We embrace UU’s historically broad appeal to those of varying faith backgrounds. Our congregants are apt to be Unitarian Universalist and Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Humanist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, atheist and agnostic, believers in God, or not. We have radical roots and a history as self-motivated spiritual people who think for ourselves and recognize the outsize role that life experience plays in shaping our beliefs.
Our Minister, Reverend Barbara Threet
“At Rutland UU, we gather for many reasons: for worship, for community, for companionship. Our church takes on new relevance in troubling times. We gather to empower and support each other, as we find ways to take our message of acceptance and history of advocacy and courage into our community, our country, and our world. I am delighted to serve this vibrant, healthy, compassionate and thoughtful congregation.” Rev.Barbara
An active Unitarian Universalist for nearly 50 years, Reverend Barbara Threet was ordained in October of 2003. She retired from full-time ministry in the Boston area in mid-2016, and has been our consulting minister since then.
Rev. Barbara has worked diligently to support the lay leadership of the church and to strengthen our congregational life. She is available by appointment for conversation and, when needed, makes special trips to Rutland for pastoral emergencies.
September through June, Rev. Barbara spends one long weekend a month in Rutland and preaches on those Sundays. During her extended stays, she also visits members, attends various church events, and participates in congregation meetings. Each year, Rev. Barbara offers classes in person and by Zoom to Rutland UU members and guests on topics of spiritual exploration, UU history, and topical social issues.
Our Beliefs & Values
These seven principles reflect deeply-held UU values. In them, we find moral guidance backed by wisdom and spirituality drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience.
1st principle:
The inherent worth and dignity of every person.
2nd principle:
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.
3rd principle:
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.
4th principle:
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.
5th principle:
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.
6th principle:
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.
7th principle:
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
Our Church Governance
One of our most cherished principles is that of congregational polity. It means that we, the congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland, bear the complete responsibility for governing our own church. Our members make all ultimate decisions for the church, including the adoption of church bylaws, the election of the Board of Trustees, the adoption of a church budget, and the call of a minister.
There is no church hierarchy that seeks our obedience. Our church is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), through which the 1,000 UU congregations in the United States seek to help each other. While we receive support and guidance from the UUA, we are an independent congregation and not beholden to the organization.
Our Church
Our historic church at 117 West Street in Rutland has been a center for community and social progress for more than a century. It was built between 1888-1890 and dedicated in 1890 as St. Paul’s Universalist Church. The High Victorian Gothic structure of locally-quarried blue marble was designed by architect Elbridge Boynton, then renowned throughout New England for his exquisite sanctuaries with fine acoustics.
Magnificent Sanctuary
The Rutland UU sanctuary is clad entirely in elegant, dark hardwood and spanned by graceful trusses of the same dark wood. The side walls are lined with period stained glass windows. The result is a magnificent space, laced with light, that’s both soaring and uplifting and remarkably warm, cozy, and embracing.
Change Over the Decades
Long after the 1961 national merger of Unitarians and Universalists, our church continued to be known as St. Paul’s Universalist Church. In 1999, we formalized its rededication as the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland. We work hard to maintain and restore this elegant, historic church, recognizing it as an important landmark in downtown Rutland and as our faith home.
Major Improvements
In 2002-03, after a successful capital campaign, we added two upstairs rooms, two downstairs bathrooms, a storeroom, and a handicapped accessible entrance with a lift. At the same time, we replaced the heating system and completely gutted and rebuilt the old downstairs, now rented to a childcare center for its after-school program.
Restoration Projects
In 2024, we received a Vermont Historic Preservation Grant, along with several very generous donations, which allowed us to begin restoring a large number of the sanctuary’s stained glass windows. Our next project is refurbishment of the celebrated pipe organ, original to the church in 1890.
Need an Event Space?
We welcome rental inquiries. Our sanctuary can be configured to seat 140 people or used as an open space without seating. It’s popular for weddings, memorials, dances, concerts, and events. Also available is a small meeting room for groups of 10 to 12 people. Please contact Karina at (802) 775-0850 or use the form button below.
Accessibility
Rutland UU is committed to accessible accommodation for all—and welcomes any suggestions for improvement.
At 117 West Street, you’ll find the accessibility entrance and adjacent reserved parking spots at the rear of the church. The parking lot entrance is off Cottage Street, just north of West Street.
The accessibility entrance provides a roomy vertical-platform wheelchair lift that’s easy to self operate. Please feel free to use the accessibility entrance and lift if navigating steps is difficult due to reduced mobility of any sort, including: steadiness concerns; use of a wheelchair, walker, or crutches; or if wrangling a baby stroller.
In the sanctuary, the east seating section provides enhanced hearing. Large print copies of the Order of Service and Hymnal are available from the weekly greeters posted at the main entrance. This website, too, is designed with accessibility features throughout.