Our Beliefs
We believe deeply in the power of love, compassion, forgiveness, and humility as vehicles for making this a more just and equitable society. We attend this church because these values are evident in every interaction we have with one another and in the community at large. We believe that it is not creedal restrictions that allow this to happen. Rather, we believe that it is the freedom to pursue our own spiritual paths with the support of a strong, loving community that will bring goodness to the world.
About Unitarian-Universalism
As a member congregation of the Unitarian-Universalist Association, we covenant to affirm and promote:
We draw our strength for all spiritual and religious traditions, and we welcome people of all faiths and points of view into our congregation. We are grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith. We are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As a free and self-governing congregation, we enter into this covenant and promise all comers mutual trust and support.
Our emphasis is on ethical living, rather than creedal restrictions. It is characteristic of the Universalist Faith within which the Nottingham Community CHurch was founded in 1875.
- The inherent worth and dignity of all people;
- Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
- Acceptance of one anoth er and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
- A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
- The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregation and in society at large;
- the goal of world community with peace. Liberty, and justice for all;
- Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are all a part.
We draw our strength for all spiritual and religious traditions, and we welcome people of all faiths and points of view into our congregation. We are grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith. We are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As a free and self-governing congregation, we enter into this covenant and promise all comers mutual trust and support.
Our emphasis is on ethical living, rather than creedal restrictions. It is characteristic of the Universalist Faith within which the Nottingham Community CHurch was founded in 1875.
Our History
The Nottingham Community Church was founded in 1875 as a Universalist congregation, which it remained until the union of the Universalist and Unitarian churches in the early 1960's. As such, it has always been an open and welcoming community and served a purpose as a community center and gathering place for the small village of Nottingham and the surrounding towns. For much of its existence, the church honored its Christian roots, but always with the caveat that people of all faiths and creeds were welcome. Our affiliation with the Unitarian-Universalist Association merely codifies our current strong belief in the sanctity of the individual spiritual path.
Our building was built and finished for a dedication and celebration on Christmas Day in 1880. The open, bright sanctuary has a beautiful bell tower/steeple that complements the Victorian, gingerbread shingle style of the exterior of the building. The Fernald Chapel was added to the back of the church in 1960 to enlarge the parish hall. The Fernald Chapel is a more modern structure and practical space in which many a harvest supper and community gathering have taken place. Today the primary use of the Fernald Chapel is to house the Nature's Place Early Learning Center, a thriving day care business.
In 2000, a good deal of the church was damaged by fire, during which all the historic enameled windows and many other historical decorations of the church were destroyed. The good people of the fire department managed to save the organ and some of the other important contents of the church. Over the next several years, the church was painstakingly restored, though such details as the windows were irreplaceable. The octagonal enameled "rose" window, which sits high on the Southern wall at the front of the church, is the one part of the church that has yet to be replaced. The congregation has created a fund, and is slowly working toward the day when a new stained glass window will finally grace the church.
The rehabilitation and restoration of this historic building is a testament to the spirit of a small congregation. With few resources and even fewer people, this congregation was able to muster the support, both fiscally, physically, and spiritually to withstand what for many congregations would have been their end.
Our building was built and finished for a dedication and celebration on Christmas Day in 1880. The open, bright sanctuary has a beautiful bell tower/steeple that complements the Victorian, gingerbread shingle style of the exterior of the building. The Fernald Chapel was added to the back of the church in 1960 to enlarge the parish hall. The Fernald Chapel is a more modern structure and practical space in which many a harvest supper and community gathering have taken place. Today the primary use of the Fernald Chapel is to house the Nature's Place Early Learning Center, a thriving day care business.
In 2000, a good deal of the church was damaged by fire, during which all the historic enameled windows and many other historical decorations of the church were destroyed. The good people of the fire department managed to save the organ and some of the other important contents of the church. Over the next several years, the church was painstakingly restored, though such details as the windows were irreplaceable. The octagonal enameled "rose" window, which sits high on the Southern wall at the front of the church, is the one part of the church that has yet to be replaced. The congregation has created a fund, and is slowly working toward the day when a new stained glass window will finally grace the church.
The rehabilitation and restoration of this historic building is a testament to the spirit of a small congregation. With few resources and even fewer people, this congregation was able to muster the support, both fiscally, physically, and spiritually to withstand what for many congregations would have been their end.
