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The Icelandic Unitarians A Distinctive Religious Phenomenon in North America |
In the history of Unitarian Universalism in North America, there has never been a more successful effort towards ethnic diversity than the Icelandic Unitarian movement. From its beginnings in 1886 until its gradual decline following World War II, nearly thirty Icelandic Unitarian congregations were organized in Western Canada, the Upper Midwest and Washington state. At its peak in the 1930s, there were eighteen active churches and preaching stations. |
The Icelandic Unitarians - © 2008 - Stefan M. Jonasson |
Icelandic Unitarians |
A Living Tradition ... Active Congregations with Icelandic Roots |
Several Unitarian Universalist congregations continue the Icelandic Unitarian tradition today, celebrating their Icelandic heritage even as they have become more broadly-based community churches. Arborg, Manitoba - Arborg Unitarian Church: Founded in 1923 as the Icelandic Federated Church in Arborg (Sambands Söfnuður Íslendinga í Árborg), this congregation now boasts an increasingly diverse membership while continuing to celebrate its Icelandic roots. A short history of the church, prepared by Palmi Palsson, was included in the book Northern Lights, a collection of congregational histories of Unitarian churches in Western Canada. Blaine, Washington - Free Church Unitarian: Founded in 1928 as the Free Church Congregation (Fríkirkjusöfnuður), Free Church Unitarian is the only remaining Icelandic Unitarian church in the United States. Today it is a diverse congregation drawing its members from every quarter of the community. Gimli, Manitoba - Gimli Unitarian Church: An independent liberal congregation, which has served the Gimli community since 1891. From 1920 until the 1950s, the congregation was known as the First Federated Church of Gimli, reflecting the merger of the Icelandic Unitarian and New Theology movements. By the 1960s, though, the church returned to its earlier identity as Gimli Unitarian Church. The Gimli Women's Institute included a short history of the church in Gimli Saga, a book published to commemorate Canada's centennial. Hnausa, Manitoba - Hnausa Unitarian Camp and Chapel: The Unitarian Fresh Air Camp was established in 1937, under the auspices of the Western Canada Alliance of Unitarian Women, originally to provide outdoor vacations for needy children from the Icelandic community in Winnipeg. Today, the Hnausa Unitarian Camp seeks to continue in the historical tradition of Lake Winnipeg camps - promoting our liberal religious heritage by providing this site for children, families and community groups to meet. The Arnes Unitarian Church (built in 1925) was moved to the camp in 1967 to serve as a chapel. Reykjavík, Iceland - Unitarian Fellowship: There have been sporadic attempts to organize Unitarian societies in Iceland ever since the nineteenth century, when Icelanders from North America encouraged such efforts. They have been long-lived, owing in part to the historic openness of the Church of Iceland to theological diversity. Today, there is a small society in Reykjavík, which has several dozen active members and a much larger group of sympathizers. The secretary is: Jón R. Gunnarsson, Hjarðarhaga 48, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland; telephone +354 551-7254. Winnipeg, Manitoba - First Unitarian Universalist Church: The first Icelandic Unitarian congregation, this church was organized on February 1, 1891 as the First Icelandic Unitarian Society. It remains the largest of the Unitarian churches with an Icelandic heritage. Wynyard, Saskatchewan - Wynyard Unitarian Church: Founded as the Quill Lake Congregation in 1906, the "Brick Church" in Wynyard is now a provincial heritage site. Its tiny congregation hosts the annual All-Saskatchewan Service on the Sunday following the Civic Holiday each August. This year's All-Saskatchewan Service will be held on Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome! Lunch will follow the service. Contact Rev. Stefan Jonasson for details. |