Congregations are indexed alphabetically by location; groups such as regional associations (e.g., "Lower Wabash Association" or "Shelby County Circuit") are listed by the name of the group.
If more information is currently available, the city or group name will appear in blue and be underlined, indicating a link to further material. Double-click on the link if you wish to see more information on that location or group.
Each congregational listing includes the following information (if known): location, county, faith tradition, dates, congregation name (if different from location name or if there were multiple congregations in a locale), and projected UUSI research project phase, according to the following plan.
Phase 1
Southernmost congregations and last active members of the Universalist ÒSouthern CircuitÓ
Projected completion: December, 2005
Phase 2
Unitarian congregations in Jasper Douthit's Shelbyville Circuit, 19th century Unitarian contact points, and current Charleston UU Fellowship
Projected completion: December, 2006
Phase 3
Universalist congregations served by early women ministers
Projected completion: December, 2007
Phase 4
Remaining Univeralist congregations in southern Illinois
Projected completion: December, 2008
Phase 5
Universalist associations and missionary efforts; Unitarian and Universalist religious leaders
Projected completion: December, 2009
Each group listing includes the following information (if known): name of the group, denomination, dates, and projected UUSI research project phase.
Alton, Madison County, Unitarian Universalist, 1836-present
"First Unitarian Church of Alton" [LINK to Alton PDF material]
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Ashley, Washington County, Universalist, 1870 to c. 1894
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Beecher City, Effingham County, Universalist, 1875 to "dormant" in 1943
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Big Muddy River Association (or "Muddy River Association"), Universalist, c. 1870
UUSI Research Project Phase: 5
Bingham, Fayette County, Universalist, 1877 to at least 1961
"First Universalist Church of Little Hickory,"
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Breese, Clinton County, Universalist, 1860-1863
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Carbondale, Jackson County, Unitarian Universalist, 1953-present
"Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship"
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Casey, Clark County, Universalist, c. 1900 to "dormant" in 1927
"Good Hope Universalist Church"
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Charleston, Coles County, multiple congregations,
Unitarian contacts, c. 1860
Universalist, c. 1869
"Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Eastern Illinois," 1965-present
UUSI Research Project Phase: 2
Chester, Randolph County, Universalist, 1868 to c. 1873
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Cowden, Shelby County, Universalist, 1875 to "occasional services" in 1900
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Fillmore, Montgomery County (see Bingham above)
Girard, Macoupin County, Universalist,c. 1856 to "dormant" in 1900
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Golconda, Pope County, Universalist, 1860-1877
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Good Hope, see Casey
Greenup, Cumberland County, Universalist, 1879 to "dormant" in 1927
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Greenwood, see Newton
Harrisburg, Saline County, Universalist, 1870 to 1873
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Hillsboro, Montgomery County, Unitarian, c. 1836 to 1860
UUSI Research Project Phase: 2
Hutsonville, Crawford County, Universalist, 1870 to c. 1959
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Jacksonville, Morgan County, multiple congregations
"Independent Society," (Unitarian) 1869 to 1886
Unitarian Universalist, in formation in 2005
UUSI Research Project Phase: 2
Jewett, Cumberland County, Universalist, 1875 to "occasional services" in 1880
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Knob Prairie, Jefferson County, see Waltonville
Laur, Jefferson County, see Waltonville
Little Hickory, Fayette County, see Bingham
Litchfield, Montgomery County, Universalist, 1883 to (at least) 1961
"First Universalist Church"
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Lower Wabash Association, Universalist, c. 1880 to c. 1940
UUSI Research Project Phase: 5
Mason or "Mason City," Effingham County, Universalist, 1874 to (at least) 1880
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Mattoon, Coles County, Unitarian, c. 1867 to 1907
UUSI Research Project Phase: 2
Metropolis, Massac County, Universalist minister(s) in residence c. 1951
W. D. Harrington and Frank G. Ward
UUSI Research Project Phase: 5
Mount Pleasant, Union County, Universalist, 1866 to c. 1930
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Mount Vernon, Jefferson County, multiple congregations
Mount Vernon Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2005-present
Universalist congregation, c. 1900 to "dormant" in 1943
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Newton, Jasper County, Universalist, 1910 to (gone by) 1943
Possibly named "Greenwood Universalist Church"
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Noble, Richland County, Universalist, 1871 to (at least) 1885
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Oblong or Oblong City, Crawford County, Universalist, 1871 to "dormant" in 1900
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Pana, Christian County, Unitarian, c. 1870
UUSI Research Project Phase: 2
Rose Hill, Jasper County, Universalist, c. 1885 to c. 1948
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Salem, Marion County, Universalist preacher in residence, c. 1843
W. Middleton
UUSI Research Project Phase: 5
Sharpsburg, Christian County, Universalist, c. 1895 to (at least) 1961
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Shelbyville, Shelby County, multiple congregations
Unitarian Church of Shelbyville, Unitarian, 1868 to c. 1950
Jordan Unitarian Chapel, Unitarian, c. 1882 to 1935
UUSI Research Project Phase: 2
Shiloh Hill, Randolph County, Universalist, 1867 to c. 1874
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Southern Circuit, Universalist, 1880s through mid-1950s
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Sparta, Randolph County, Unitarian contact
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Spring Garden, Jefferson County, Universalist, c. 1873
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Vandalia, Fayette County, Unitarian contact, c. 1860
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Waltonville, Jefferson County, c. 1870 – present (inactive)
"First Universalist Church of Waltonville"
UUSI Research Project Phase: 1
Watson, Effingham County, Universalist, c. 1873
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
West Liberty, Jasper County, Universalist, 1903 to c. 1919
UUSI Research Project Phase: 4
Williamsburg, Jefferson County, see Waltonville
Windsor, Shelby County, Universalist, c. 1885 to (at least) 1910
UUSI Research Project Phase: 3
Mystery Locations
The following locations are listed as the sites of 19th century Unitarian or Universalist congregations, and context information suggests that they may quite possibly have been located in the area of study. However, they are not listed in current Illinois map and gazetteer directories. Do you know where any of the following locations may have been?
If so, please contact the Rev. Bill Sasso by email at bsasso@juno.com or at the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship (618-529-2439). Thanks!
"Frazer" in Jasper County, hosted Lower Wabash Association annual meeting in
Universalist, c.
Locust Spring
Universalist, address of IUC Southern Association, c. 1855
Millersville
Universalist, served by Pastor R. G. Harris, c. 1871
Webb Hill or Webb's Hill (possibly in general vicinity of Effingham?)
Universalist, 1878-1880
