First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles

History

The First Unitarian Church of Los Angeles is located at 2936 W. 8th Street, Los Angeles, California 90005.

The church defines itself as a liberal church that is interested in social issues such as human rights, civil liberties and the attainment of a rational society. Its tradition extends over four centuries beginning in 1558 in Transylvania. Exponents have included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and Joseph Priestly. The First Unitarian Church in Los Angeles was founded in 1877 by Madam Caroline Severance.

The Ministers of the Los Angeles church have, in recent years, often been social activists in their own right. Stephen Hole Fritchman, who served as First Church's minister from 1948 to 1970, reflected on the relationship between the church and social activism in his 1977 autobiography Heretic. Following his retirement, Peter H. Christiansen became minister, serving until 1976. Since 1978, Reverend Phillip Zwerling has carried on the church's activist ministry.