Unitarian Church in Charleston — Attraction in Charleston

The major problem with the UU church is their tonedeafness. They try to be inclusive, but its for the wrong reasons. It's to raise their ranks and feel good about themselves, while not actually knowing or caring about what the outside community truly needs. I was already an outsider when i joined the UU church, because I was poor and uneducated. It's a fact that most UU attendees are upper middle class, white, liberal, and highly educated. 2 out of 4 aint bad, right? :/ I decided to visit this historic church while in Charleston. It's the summer, so I knew it was going to be a lay speaker instead of a minister. So it was a lady talking about Habitat for Humanity. OK, cool. Yeah, no. She was a rich lawyer who quit her job to head the local Habitat instead. She made a huge selling point out of the fact that it was people like "us" who are a "major part of our community," like "teachers", "EMTs", etc, that got houses built for them. People who already make 40k+ a year and helped out, but just couldn't afford a home in an area where a 1 bedroom apartment goes for $1600/month. GOD FORBID that a fast food worker get a place to sleep at night. OH NO, Habitat for Humanity isnt for those FILTHY POORS but for fine people like us who just can't cross the threshold! She talked about how humbling it was to be able to help families whose kids, THE HORROR, OMG, NEVER HAD A SPRINKLER IN THE BACKYARD TO RUN IN DURING THE SUMMER. I lived in apartments my whole childhood and didn't know i was that bad off, but now i know i was truly deprived because i didn't have my own sprinkler. I'm honestly disgusted that I took my friend who'd never been to a UU church to this. The WHOLE thing was "oh no, don't worry, we're helping out people just like us, and can still get our brownie points!" The only reason I didn't give it 1 star is its historical architecture and overgrown cemetery. So if you can get a tour without going to the service, go for it. I just hate places that are hypocritical. They openly advertise that they're inclusive of everybody, white, black, straight, gay, trans, rich, poor, but they make it quite obvious who they are preaching to, then are surprised when the minorities don't flock to it?? I've been going to UU churches for over a decade now, but I'm done with it. I've been to almost a dozen UU fellowships, and they almost all do the...

I had a highly positive experience here.

While passing through the Charleston area, I attended a Sunday-morning service at the church, and it proved unexpectedly wonderful. The building was, first, somewhat magical in itself, being a historically majestic structure rising from the heart of the old town, with wooden pews and stained glass and creaky floors. The congregation was friendly and respectful; the music, heartening and uplifting; the program in general shone with thoughtfulness and spirit.

Though, enjoyable as these details were, what truly touched me that day was the message. Delivered by a kindly older gentleman (and with what I sensed to be great sincerity and compassion), it concerned a subject dear to me: the positive, non-egotistical practice of self-love, and the many, far-reaching benefits it provides to everyone around you - which, as it were, happened to be exactly what I needed reminding of on this particular morning, for several reasons. (What an interesting coincidence ...)

Afterward, I left feeling nourished in soul, and with renewed confidence in certain key beliefs of mine, in a rare and powerful way.

For my glowing experience, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all at this church. Please, continue with this most important work of yours.

Sincerely, Mr....

Spectacular...simply spectacular! The perpendicular Gothic style and delicate fan tracery ceiling was patterned after King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England. The early art nouveau side windows were added after a hurricane in 1885. In keeping with the Unitarian tenet that death is part of the natural order, plants grow wherever they like in the adjoining garden cemetery, which pays homage to the free-flowing plan of Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA, also established by Unitarians. Just inside the Archdale Street entrance to the churchyard is a memorial constructed using bricks from the original church building and dedicated to “…the enslaved workers who made these bricks and helped build our church.” Each year, “…houses of worship across the peninsula welcome …visitors…interested in learning more about the history, culture and faith of the congregations lining (Charleston’s) streets” at an event called “Spirited Brunch” (April 23 in 2023). The Unitarian Church will be serving Thomas Jefferson’s deviled eggs and Abigail Adams’ apple pan dowdy (Abigail Adams was Unitarian and Jefferson held...