RVUUF celebrates its 64th birthday this Sunday, April 8, and offers a toast to another “at least 64 more years” of serving as a beacon of liberal faith in Southern Oregon.

RVUUF was formally organized on Nov. 15, 1953. It is an autonomous congregation and governs itself using bylaws that were created when the fellowship became a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations.

RVUUF was started by a Southern Oregon College professor, Arthur Kreisman, and his wife Evelyn Kreisman. The Kreismans placed ads explaining Unitarianism in the Ashland Daily Tidings, attracting members from as far away as Grants Pass and Klamath Falls. The group became the “Unitarian Fellowship of Ashland.” When in 1962 the Unitarians and Universalists in North America merged, the congregation expanded to today’s name.

At first the Fellowship met in private homes and later rented space in various facilities throughout Rogue Valley. Then in June 1990 the Fellowship purchased the Nazarene Church, located at 87 Fourth St. in Ashland. The Congregation celebrated the move to their new home with a grand procession through the middle of downtown Ashland. The parade strung out from the old pink church, all the way to their new church home. It was a grand and festive celebration. The whole congregation marched, carrying before them the symbol of our UU faith — the flaming Chalice.

Having come far from its beginnings, the congregation is proud of its heritage and ongoing actions to become a strong community that sends a beacon of liberal faith out to the larger community.