More than 70 years ago, the United States was in the grip of tension with another world power and political repression was on the rise.  It was against this backdrop that thirteen people and one minister answered the call to start a free church on a rural plot along New Hampshire Avenue. They believed the community needed a place to teach children values not taught in school, where they could question openly, where people of diverse beliefs could create music and beauty, community and justice together. And that’s how the Takoma Park - Silver Spring Universalist Fellowship was born on September 18, 1952. 

Nine years later, the Universalist and Unitarian denominations merged, and we renamed ourselves the Unitarian Universalist Church of Silver Spring. As we grew, our members put our faith into action by organizing and advocating with the Civil Rights movement. 

While the issues have changed, this congregation’s commitment to work for justice remains as strong as ever. In the 70s we worked for gender equality, in the 80s and 90s for the environment. In the 2000s we worked for racial justice and mobilized to help pass Marriage Equality in Maryland. These days we work with Action in Montgomery and the Maryland Just Power Alliance to advocate for our values at the county and state levels.