| 1895 |
Rev. Quillen Shinn first arrives in Houston. |
| April 30, 1899 |
Rev. Shinn stays for two weeks, leaving behind a membership list
for Unity Universalist Church. |
| 1907 |
Rev. Shinn dies. |
| 1908-1911 |
Rev. Charles H. Rogers becomes the first settled minister. |
| February 14, 1914 |
Incorporates as First Unitarian Church of Houston |
| 1914 |
Ladies Aid is renamed “Women’s Alliance” |
| 1917 |
Unity House (located on Bagby/Rosalie) becomes congregation’s
first home |
| 1930 |
Unity House is sold |
| 1931 |
Parcel on Southmore/Fannin purchased for $20,000; a member donates
pre-fab building for social gatherings; services held at the Warwick
Hotel |
| 1934 |
Congregation builds one-room church building |
| 1938 |
Rev. John C. Petrie becomes minister and first Regional Director
of SW Conference |
| 1939 |
Addition built for church school; newsletter begins |
| 1940 |
Adult choir program begins; first member canvass |
| October 1948 |
Congregation hires architect Tom Graecen to develop plans for
lot on Fannin. |
| 1949 |
Rev. Petrie resigns his ministry. |
| January 1950 |
Rev. Horace F. Westwood is called by the congregation. |
| March 1952 |
New building is completed. |
| June 7, 1954 |
First Church votes to desegregate services (the first church in
Houston to do so). |
| January 1960 |
First Church votes to approve merger of Unitarians and Universalists |
| October 1960 |
Emerson Unitarian Church opens as “spin off.” |
| 1964 |
Second story addition built for church school |
| March 1967 |
Fire destroys electronic organ and part of sanctuary; pipe organ
is purchased. |
| 1969 |
Peace Committee forms in response to Vietnam War. |
| 1970’s |
Several new groups formed: men, women, gay, youth, young adult,
singles |
| 1972 |
Rev. Westwood retires; jail visitation program begins. |
| January 1973 |
Rev. Webster Kitchell is called by the congregation. |
| 1974 |
The church's first woman Board President, Jackie Cronquist, is
elected. |
| 1981 |
Rev. Kitchell is called by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation
of Santa Fe, New Mexico |
| 1982 |
Rev. Robert Schaibly is called by the congregation. |
| 1983 |
Church becomes sanctuary for Central American refugees. |
| 1987 |
Houston Area Teen Coalition for Homosexuals (HATCH), an organization dedicated to empowering GLBTQ adolescents, founded at First Church. |
| 1990 |
Congregation purchases grand piano; Channing Concert series develops.
|
| 1994 |
First Church becomes a Welcoming Congregation.
|
| 1998-2000 |
Rev. Gail Lindsay Marriner is called as Associate Minister; her
role is redefined as Co-Minister |
| 2000 |
Chalice Circles and Care Team initiated. |
| 2002 |
Rev. Schaibly retires; Board appoints Rev. Marriner a Co-minister
with Interim Minister Rev. Bruce Bode. |
| 2004 |
Rev. Jose Ballester is called as Team Minister. |
| February 2008 |
By mutual agreement between the ministers and the Board of Trustees,
Rev. Ballester and Rev. Marriner depart from First Church. |
| August 2008 |
Rev. Dr. David Keyes is called as Interim Senior Minister of First
Church. |
| August 2010 |
Rev. Dr. Daniel O'Connell is called as Senior Minister of First
Church. |