Among the many Summer visitors who came to enjoy our beautiful mountains in the early 1970\u2019s were Myrtle and Art Lockwood. They were devoted Unitarian Universalists. \u00a0Not finding a UU Church in Franklin and missing their accustomed Sunday morning discussions, they placed an advertisement in the local paper.\u00a0 The ad asked if there were other UUs who would be interested in getting together for philosophical and theological discussions. \u00a0Two couples responded, and thus began the nucleus of the Franklin UU Fellowship. \u00a0The group met in member homes until it became too large and a search was begun to find a larger meeting place.\u00a0 A suitable property was found.\u00a0 Two families — the Shindelmans and the Whites — made personal loans to facilitate the purchase.\u00a0 The group pooled their energies and skills to convert a dwelling house into a sanctuary.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1974 the UU Fellowship of Macon County, NC became a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The name was later modified, and in 2005 the UU Fellowship of Franklin, NC incorporated in their own right as a non-profit organization. The Fellowship is a congregation of progressive minds and caring connections and has been lay-led throughout its history<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the meeting space once again too small to accommodate the growing membership, plans were begun to build a new sanctuary\/social hall. \u00a0A capital campaign was launched and a long range planning committee was established.\u00a0 Influenced by the seven UU Principles; the congregation voted to build, to the best of its ability and resources, a round building that adheres to the \u201cGreen Sanctuary\u201d designation. \u00a0The new sanctuary was dedicated on January 4, 2009.\u00a0 That same year the Fellowship completed the credentials to be recognized as \u201cA Welcoming Congregation\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"