About Us
Location
The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley (UUCSV) is located in Stephens City, Virginia. We are a medium size church with a membership usually between 120 to 150, serving members from the local Winchester and Frederick County, Virginia area as well as nearby Front Royal. Members come from Virginia Counties of Shenandoah, Clarke, Loudoun, Warren, and more as well as from West Virginia counties Jefferson and New Hampshire, and more. Additionally, we have members who live in other areas of Virginia, and the US.
The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley, Inc. is to build a community based on and committed to self-development, compassion, open communication, and action.
Congregation Religious Background
The people of our congregation come from a variety of religious backgrounds or no specific religious background.
Early Beginnings of the Church and Name Changes
The congregation began with eight interested individuals in January 1973. In October 1973 this fellowship was officially recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as the First Unitarian Fellowship with its 22 charter members.
The name changed in September 1980 to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winchester, and in November 1987 the official name was changed to the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley.
Current Church Building Development
The fellowship held their early meetings at various locations including members’ homes, the Beth El Temple, the Memorial Building at Jim Barnett Park, Handley Regional Library, and other locations. As the membership grew, the fellowship desired a larger and more permanent facility, and in November 1987, began services in a new home, the former Cedar Cliff Presbyterian Church located south of Stephens City.
As membership increased, the congregation outgrew its small home, and in May 2004 moved to its current home, a purpose-built facility located on 20 acres generously donated by its members Dierdre Cochran and Dan Couch.