The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse began in 1945 as the Channing Club, a discussion group that was founded by Dr.Willis Merriam, a geology professor at Washington State University.

By 1949, the group had become known as the Pullman Unitarian Fellowship. Meanwhile 12 miles East of Pullman in Moscow, Idaho, a fellowship was formed as an adult discussion group with John Brockelbank, a University of Idaho Law school Professor, as president.

The two groups somewhat merged by 1953, and began to meet jointly in Pullman, and in 1956, the Moscow-Pullman Unitarian Fellowship was legally incorporated. The group also purchased St. James Episcopal church in Pullman, but due to small attendance and maintenance problems the building was sold in 1971.

The first part of the seventies saw the fellowship meeting in small groups in private homes, and at the Campus Christian center on the U of I campus. But as attendance began to rise, the Koinonia House became the meeting place. In 1978 Harold Rosen was hired as a permanent part-time minister.

Seven years later, the fellowship found a new home in the old Swedish Lutheran Church in Moscow. The building was purchased and, after a lot of hard work and renovation, dedicated on October 17, 1985 and the fellowship officially became the Unitarian Church of the Palouse.

Under the leadership of Reverend Lynn Ungar, the UUCP became a dynamic mix of social action and spiritual expansion. Today the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse is a thriving growing community of spiritual seekers and concerned citizens, working to make a positive impact in their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Our church started to outgrow its building in the 1990's. To resolve this, we transformed our parsonage into the Yellow House. The basement of the Yellow House is a usable classroom area instead of a dusty, dirty storage area. The outdoor area between the church and Yellow House is a tiled courtyard with a patio that works wonderfully for outdoor coffee and conversation.

In 1997, after a careful search, the UUCP hired our minister, Reverend Joan Montagnes. The congregation received a $7000 grant from the Pacific Northwest District Chalice Lighter's program. The church votes to support the Jewish Community of the Palouse during an uprising of neo-nazi activity.

During 1998, the congregation sponsored the "Traveling Viet Nam Memorial Wall - The Wall that Heals" on its visit to Moscow.

In 2005, Reverend Joan Montagnes accepted a position at a Seattle-area congregation, and the UUCP called as our Interim Minister the Rev. Patti Pomerantz.

On April 30, 2006, a congregational meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Palouse (UUCP), by a vote of 98.5% in favor, called the Reverend Kayle Louise Rice as our settled minister, and she accepted the call. Rev. Patti Pomerantz's Interim Minister contract with the UUCP officially ended on July 15, 2006. Rev. Rice, having resigned from her position of four years as part-time Minister of the Marquette, Michigan, Unitarian Universalist Congregation, moved with her husband Brian Leekley here to Moscow, Idaho, and officially began her position as UUCP Minister, on August 1, 2006.

The last ten years have been very busy in terms of growth and intentional steps taken by the congregation. In Fall 2004 we implemented our Small Group Ministry Program, stepped up our Childrens' RE program by looking for and calling a DRE who took part in the credentialing program. (We now have a half-time DRE and an Assistant DRE as well.). In 2004 the congregation also committed to meeting the guidelines for being a Fair Compensation Congregation, and our pledges increased dramatically to meet this commitment beginning in 2005. In addition to our RE staff, we also have been able to maintain a 50% time Administrative Secretary and a Music/Choir Director since that time. In 2005 we went through the steps and received the Welcoming Congregation designation through the UUA. For the years 2008 and 2009 we sponsored our first-ever Intern Minister - Tracy Springberry Just this past year (Winter 2010), we worked with Michael Durall to evaluate where we are as a congregation and begin an intentional discussion of where we want to go and grow.

Historical Timeline

1945 The Channing Club, a Unitarian discussion group, is founded by Dr. Willis Merriam, a geography professor at Washington State University.

1949 The Pullman Unitarian Fellowship is organized with Dr. Merriam as Chairman. The Moscow Fellowship, an adult discussion group, is organized with John Brockelbank, a University of Idaho law school professor, as President.

1951 A joint meeting of the Moscow and Pullman groups draws 55 people.

1953 Religious Education begins in Pullman. The Moscow and Pullman groups begin to meet jointly in Pullman.

1956 The Moscow-Pullman Unitarian Fellowship is legally incorporated. The group purchases St. James Episcopal Church in Pullman.

1960 A budget of $6000 is supported by 40 families. Sunday attendance over the next few years ranges from 20 to 100.

1971 The Church Building is sold due to small attendance and maintenance problems.

1970s Small groups meet in private homes and at the Campus Christian Center at the University of Idaho. As attendance rises, the Fellowship begins to meet at Koinonia House on the Washington State University campus.

1978 The Rev. Harold Rosen is called as part-time minister.

1985 The Fellowship purchases the old Swedish Lutheran Church in Moscow. The congregation renovates the church and dedicates it on October 17th. The fellowship officially changes its name to the Unitarian Church of the Palouse.

1987 Harold Rosen resigns.

1988 The Rev. Art Curtis is called as interim minister for one year. The "Yellow House" is purchased to be used for Religious Education and meetings. The Rev. Marc Estrin is ordained and installed by the congregation.

1989 Marc Estrin departs in the spring. The congregation functions with lay ministry.

1990 The church's mortgage is burned and the $30,000 loan from the Unitarian Universalist Association is paid off. The Rev. Harold Beu is called as interim minister for two years.

1992 The Rev. Lynn Ungar is called as minister and is ordained and installed on November 8th.

1993 On April 18th, the congregation votes to add "Universalist" to the name of the church, and declares itself a "Hate free Zone" in the face of Idaho's anti-gay initiatives. In the fall, the church renovates the kitchen.

1996 The "Sound Money" campaign raises funds for a new piano, assistive listening devices, and acoustic modifications to the basement. The congregation renovates the Yellow House to provide more space for religious Education. In June, the Rev. Lynn Ungar resigns. The Congregation elects to be lay-led for one year. Krista Kramer is hired as Administrative Coordinator for the interim.

1997 The Rev. Joan Montagnes is called as minister in May and installed on November 16th. The congregation receives a $7000 grant from the Pacific Northwest District Chalice Lighter's program. The church votes to support the Jewish Community of the Palouse during an uprising of neo-Nazi activity.

1998 The congregation sponsors the "Traveling Viet Nam Memorial Wall-The Wall that Heals" on its visit to Moscow.

1999/2000 The Congregation celebrates its fiftieth anniversary with special events, a congregational photo and a special Service with all seven past UUCP ministers speaking.