The History of Our UU Waco Fellowship

The Fellowship began in the home of John and Neecie Vanston in 1952 with ten founding member families and was chartered in 1956. We rented space until we
purchased our first building on North 19th Street in 1978.

Until 1990, the Fellowship was completely lay led and the membership fluctuated up and down between 20 and 40. At that time we called our first minister, Reverend Marjorie Montgomery, who served us on a part-time basis.

In 1992, with visions of growth, the Fellowship acquired and remodeled a new building, mostly with the volunteer labor of members. And in 1993, Reverend Kathleen Ellis joined us as a half-time minister. She was succeeded by part-time ministers Bill Murchison, Neal Jones and Nathan Stone.

In 1996, we adopted an ambitious five-year plan, which included enlarging and improving our facility, community involvement, membership growth, and full-time ministry. We have now accomplished much of that plan.

In May 1998, we dedicated our new memorial garden; in February 1999, we co-sponsored the first annual community-wide dialogue on race relations; in October 1999, we dedicated our new sanctuary; and in September 2001, with a new high of about 70 members, we hired Reverend Nathan Stone as our full-time minister. Each
year, our membership steadily grows and we now have about 90 members.