Timeline of CUU’s History

1980’s – 1990’s

Joseph Priestly District formed a search committee to explore areas of greater Baltimore for a new Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation.
An area was identified in the northwest section of Baltimore County and Carroll County.
An ad was placed in a local newspaper announcing the new congregation and seeking members.
Several individuals responded with interest and became the 25 founding members.
The new congregation was called the Unitarian Universalists of Northwest Baltimore.
By-laws were approved on October 20, 1985, and the congregation signed the membership book for the first time.
The group met in various locations in the Reisterstown/Glyndon area before settling in the second story of a former hardware store on Reisterstown Road.

1990’s – 2000’s

In 1993, the congregation began a search for a permanent building and formed a Capital Fund Drive.
In 1994, two members, Dave Vance and Dave Christhilf, discovered a building that was formerly a clubhouse for the Congoleum Tile Company.
The congregation rented this space for three years while funds were raised to purchase the building.
Several fundraisers were held to raise money for the new building and congregation: Goods and Services Auction, Flea Market/Flower Mart (1995), and Scrip Program (1997).
Members poured hard work and money into the building: downstairs bowling alleys were demolished, classroom walls were constructed, and cosmetic work was completed to make the space viable for religious education.
In 1997, the building was purchased and renamed Cedarhurst Unitarian Universalists (CUU).

2000’s – present

In 2008, the building loan was completely paid off.
CUU received a Chalice Lighter’s grant to purchase a street sign to be more visible to the community.

We honor the past and present leadership of CUU and appreciate the time and effort they have given to our congregation.

Ministry

Rev. Alice Blair Wesley (Congregational Organizer Minister, 1985 – 1986)
Rev. Gary Gallun (Part-time Minster, 1986 – 1989)
Rev. Valerie Wills (Part-time Student Intern Minister, 1992 – 1994)
Rev. Kerry Mueller (Part-time Minister, 1994 – 1999)
Rev. Alex Richardson (Interim Minister, 1999 – 2001)
Rev. Henry Simoni-Wastila (Full-time Minister, 2001 – 2012)
Rev. Bruce Marshall (Interim Minister, 2013 – 2015)
Rev. Amy Williams Clark (Part-time Minister, 2015 – 2024)
Rev. Kimberley Debus (Part-time Minister, 2024-Present)

Religious Education

Alison Hyder (Part-time Director of Religious Education)
Mickey Goldberg (Half-time Director of Religious Education)
Jeanne Judd (Acting Director of Religious Education)
Kelley Gordon (Half-time Director of Religious Education)
Jenn Harvilak (Half-time/Quarter-time Director of Religious Education, 2008 – 2016)
Tom Zeller (Quarter-time Religious Education Coordinator, 2016 – 2018)

Pianist

Cedarhurst Unitarian Universalists