First Unitarian is one of the oldest churches in Oklahoma City. It was founded in 1893 after the death of a member of a Unitarian family living in what eventually would become Oklahoma City. The family got in touch with a Unitarian minister in another state who came and conducted the funeral and stayed in the area for a while. A women’s alliance was created, and the group organized a Unitarian church that began to draw members even after the minister returned to his home. The women’s group kept the church going until a new minister was found and that group, now simply called the Alliance, is still a vital part of the church.

Unitarians have a commitment to social justice issues and, in Oklahoma City, they were among the leaders in the fight to abolish slavery, give women the right to vote and reform public education. Unitarians and Universalists, with their youth leading the way, consolidated to become a new denomination, Unitarian Universalists, in 1961. After the merger, First Unitarian retained its historical name. Membership at the church reached a high point in the 1960s with membership between 600 and 700.

First Unitarian is proud of being one of the first metro- area congregations to become open and affirming of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals. The church was one of the founders of the Oklahoma City Pride Parade and the Peace Festival, and is currently an active member of VOICE, a coalition of individuals, groups and houses of worship who have organized to confront and find solutions for some of the tough issues facing the community.

During a time in the city’s history when many other churches moved to more suburban locations, First Unitarian stayed in Midtown. Today, the church finds itself nestled in a thriving and growing part of the city, adjacent to the property that once housed Villa Teresa School, near businesses and several newer apartment communities.