What is QCUU?

The official name of our church is the Unitarian Church of Davenport, Iowa. We selected "QCUU" as the name of our website because our church serves the Quad-Cities area.

Picture of the church.

Our Mission

The mission of our Unitarian Church is to

create a vibrant, welcoming, diverse church family

which

embraces individual searches for meaning

and

devotes itself to community good.

Enjoy a photo gallery of our church.
Visit the PDF archive of our previous website. (You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader.)

Our Vision

Our vision is to be recognized in our community as a beacon on the hill – a vibrant, welcoming, thriving church that:

Reaches out to members and community with a clear, concise, and inspiring message about Unitarian Universalism and its Principles
Attracts and embraces people of diverse groups, ages and family types
Feeds the mind and spirit regardless of individual pathway
Supports social justice and social action initiatives in our congregation and the greater community
Encourages responsibility for the earth and its creatures

Our History

In June 1868, the newly formed First Unitarian Church in Davenport caused excitement and predictions of dire consequences. Relying on the intellect, reason and intuitive faith of its adherents rather than the usual creed of orthodoxy, the Unitarians proceeded to plant their New England-based roots firmly in Davenport’s soil. Among its first members were the families of French, Mason, Parks, Valentine, Barrows, Irish, Hubbell, Coffin, Roundy, and Churchill--families primarily of Yankee origin. ( Much later the church name was officially changed to Unitarian Church and it became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Subscriptions were taken, and the ladies of the church held a fair to raise money for the building of the first board and batten chapel in 1871. It was located at 9th (later 10th) and Perry Streets. This building was soon outgrown when freethinker Germans overcame their aversion to organized church and sent or brought their children to the only church in the area that allowed dancing.

A red brick federal style church and hall was erected in 1898 after the money for its construction was fully subscribed. After nearly sixty years of service, this building needed extensive repairs and its lovely, curved stairway to the sanctuary was a problem for aged members. The decision to move was made. The church purchased a building site--a field on the corner of Eastern Avenue and Kimberly Road. For over a year, the congregation met as a guest of Temple Emanuel. The new building, hugging the hillside and soaring toward the sky, was used for the first time on Easter Sunday 1959.

From its early years to the present, the Unitarian Church has been a positive force in the community. The founding of the Outing Club in 1891 was spearheaded by Unitarians wishing to provide a place for all young people to enjoy outdoor sport. Rev. Arthur M. Judy, the minister at that time, was also a prime mover in arranging for and promoting Iowa University Extension courses in the early 1890’s.

Unitarians were instrumental in the building of the Lend-a-Hand as a home for working girls at the turn of the century and in the formation of the Ladies Industrial Relief Society. The city park system was promoted by the Men’s Club. The first Boy Scout Troop in the city (1912) was sponsored by the church and led by Rev. Wallace Cooper and Ernest Oberholtzer, later a founder of the Wilderness Society.

Through the leadership of Rev. Charles E. Snyder, the Scott County Mental Health Association was organized in 1947. In addition to early work in community race relations, Rev. Waitstill Sharp was instrumental in the formation of the Blackhawk (later Illowa) Memorial Society in 1964. Many church members, as well as Rev. Rexford S. Styzens, were involved in the civil rights movement of the sixties. The Community Resources Corporation, formed in 1986 ti provide appropriate space for nonprofit organizations, was the idea of Rev. Alan L. Egly. It involves a number of Unitarian Church members as well as members of other community organizations. It is typical that such organizations as those above have been open to broadly based community involvement.

During the years at 10th and Perry, close bonds were formed with the neighboring congregations of Temple Emanuel and Edwards Congregational (now UCC) Church. Although each of the three has since built in different areas, they continue to meet twice a year for an Interfaith Dinner and for a shared service prior to Thanksgiving.

Rev. Charlotte Justice Saleska, the eighteenth minister, was the Church’s first female settled minister. However, women have twice served as interim ministers, have served on the church’s board of trustees and have occupied the pulpit for the earliest years. Since about 1990 the Theological Symposium has become an annual event, involving Jewish, Christian and Unitarian congregations. Quad Citians Affirming Diversity had its roots in the early eighties when the church provided a non-threatening meeting place for persons with differing sexual preferences.

A building addition in 1981 added a lounge and storage space and remodeled the kitchen. In 1997, a major improvement was made which almost doubled the size of the building with the addition of class/meeting rooms, storage spaces, and restrooms.

After Rev. Fran Dew’s two year interim ministry, Roger Butts, our present and nineteenth settled minister, was ordained and installed on March 23, 2003.

During 2005, in keeping with the U.U.. principle affirming the Interdependent Web of Existence, and in recognition of the value of conservation , the church embarked upon the installation of a new geothermal heating and cooling system.