Our History

Our congregation was accepted into the American Unitarian Association in February, 1952 and met initially in private homes. During the subsequent twenty years, membership grew slowly, with a constant turnover. A few stalwart individuals always remained.

The first minister was called in the late 1970′s. After many years of meeting in rented facilities, in 1989 the Fellowship was able to purchase its own building on Foothill Boulevard in San Luis Obispo, CA. In 1999, the congregation completed an expansion project which added a second story to the building. Following a two-year interim ministry, during which time the Fellowship completed a nationwide search, the Reverend Helen Carroll was selected as the settled minister and came to San Luis Obispo in August of 2001.

In 2005, a new chapter of our shared life began, as the congregation voted to explore alternate locations so that our growing congregation could continue to develop. With eagerness and excitement, we purchased a new parcel of land (referred to as our “Edna property”) in southern San Luis Obispo and elected to rent an interim home while the permits, paperwork and construction ensued.

In 2006, the Fellowship was recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (the UUA) as a Breakthrough Congregation – an honor given to three or four congregations each year in recognition of their growth, vitality and their furtherance of UU Principles in the wider world.

With the departure of Rev. Carroll in 2010, we hired the Reverend Sean Parker Dennison as Interim Minister to help us through the transition as we searched for a new Settled Minister.

Then, an exciting opportunity arose in late 2011 with the availability of a church for sale near Meadow Park in San Luis Obispo. We are currently in the process of negotiating to purchase the property and begin renovations. Watch the Home page for updates!