UUFF History

One of the initial motivations for the founding of this Fellowship in 1951 was to provide appropriate liberal religious education for our children and young adults. Since that time, this Fellowship has developed a strong heritage committed to reason, tolerance and love. From leading school integration efforts in the 1950's, to providing a haven for social action and religious groups in the 80's and 90's, UUFF has helped shape the larger community while fostering a nurturing and supportive atmosphere for members' spiritual and intellectual quests.

The first president was Ralph C. Barnhart, UA Professor Emeritus of Law; his wife, Mary, served as director of the Sunday School. Services were held in a variety of meeting spaces, including a hotel and a dance hall.

In 1964, the Fellowship erected its own building, designed by the late Warren Segraves and located at 901 West Cleveland Street in Fayetteville.

For the first thirty years, services were member led. The Fellowship engaged their first full-time minister, The Reverend Janet Newman, in 1983. The Reverend Chris Bailey, the second full-time minister, retired in 1993 as Minister Emerita. As interim minister, The Reverend Suzanne Dougherty led the Fellowship in 1993-1994 when the Fellowship made two critical decisions: to grow to 300 members and to plan for a larger building.

In the spring of 1994, The Reverend Rhett Baird accepted the position of settled minister. He served as our settled minister until June of 2004. The Reverend Baird was named Minister Emeritus by the congregation upon his departure. During his ten years at UUFF, our Fellowship experienced rapid growth and undertook a building project. A capital fund drive began in March 1996 and raised about a half million dollars in pledges and gifts toward a larger facility. An adjacent duplex was purchased in 1997 to provide additional space for the religious education of our children. The renovation and enlargement of our original building was designed by the environmentally conscious architect, Daryl Rantis, completed early in 1999 and dedicated with a special service and ceremony on April 18, 1999.

The Reverend Marc Fredette began his two year Interim ministry with our Fellowship in September of 2004. In August, 2006, the Reverend Fredette will become the settled minister of First Parish in Waltham, Massachusetts.

In May, 2006, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to call the Reverends David Hunter and Kerry Mueller as husband and wife co-ministers. The Reverends Hunter and Mueller begin their settled ministry at UUFF in August, 2006.