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New Series: Unitarian Civil War Chaplains

We have begun adding biographies to our collection that focus on the ministry, struggles and enduring convictions of Unitarian Civil War Chaplains. We begin with three This work comes to us from John McConnell, third year graduate student in Unitarian Universalist History at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, where his research explores Unitarian and Universalist chaplains who served the Union during the Civil War.…

Babbidge, Charles (1806-1897)

Charles Babbidge was born into a prosperous maritime family in Salem, Massachusetts, on October 28, 1806. His father, shipbuilder John Babbidge, served aboard the Massachusetts sloop Race Horse during the Revolution, contributing to the fight for independence.[1]  In 1769, John Babbidge married Sarah Beckett.…

Humphreys, Charles Alfred (1838-1921)

Battlefield Ministry: Charles Alfred Humphreys’ Mission of Faith, Patriotism, and Peace Among the Soldiers of the Union Army

by John McConnell

“I feel so strongly that when war is seen in its true colors, it will not only lose all its allurements but excite a keener appreciation of the blessings of peace.”…

Woodbury, Augustus (1825-1895)

by John McConnell

Augustus Woodbury, born on December 4, 1825, in Beverly, Massachusetts, graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard Divinity School before his 1849 ordination at Concord’s Second Congregational (Unitarian) Church.  Fourteen months later, at age twenty-five, he married twenty-four-year-old Rebecca Bryant English.…

New Special Feature: A History of Congregational Singing (Unitarian Universalist)

Beloved Unitairan Universalist Musician Matt Meyer has brought us this fascinating five part series exploring the roots of Unitarian Universalist congregational singing.  

Matt Meyer (he/him) is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist with a long background as a musician and worship leader for UU congregations.…

A History of Congregational Singing (Unitarian Universalist) Part Two

Part One: Our Song Leading Roots

Part Two:  What to Sing–Psalms vs. Blasphemy and a Question of Content

Part Three: How to Sing: Chants vs. Hymns and a Question of Form

Part Four: Who Should Sing–Performance versus Participation

Part Five: With What to Sing?

A History of Congregational Singing (Unitarian Universalist) Part Three

Part One: Our Song Leading Roots

Part Two:  What to Sing–Psalms vs. Blasphemy and a Question of Content

Part Three: How to Sing: Chants vs. Hymns and a Question of Form

Part Four: Who Should Sing–Performance versus Participation

Part Five: With What to Sing?

A History of Congregational Singing (Unitarian Universalist) Part Five

With What to Sing? Adding Instruments or Going Acapella

by Matt Meyer

“(The organ) is pleasing to almost every one of the society, excepting a few who retain their ancient prejudices, and who had rather hear this pleasing part of devotion performed by a small number of screaming voices, without order or decency, than have any tuned instrument as a help, however harmonious and agreable.” 

A History of Congregational Singing (Untiarian Universalist) Part Four

Part One: Our Song Leading Roots

Part Two:  What to Sing–Psalms vs. Blasphemy and a Question of Content

Part Three: How to Sing: Chants vs. Hymns and a Question of Form

Part Four: Who Should Sing–Performance versus Participation

Part Five: With What to Sing?

A History of Congregational Singing (Untarian Universalist) Bibliography

Compiled by Matt Meyer (rhythmrevelations.com)

Primary Sources

The Reasonableness of Regular singing… by Thomas Symmes, 1720.  Link here

The Accomplished Singer, by Cotton Mather. 1721  Link here

The Letter of Resignation from First Parish Cambridge, 1842. …