Historical Chronology
Apr 28 Rev. Elmer E. Newbert arrived (served 1903-1905)
May 3 First Service held in Hebrew Temple
May 11 Preliminary organizational meeting with 13 present
Jun 13 Alabama Street site bought by Horace McKay
Jun 14 Last service at Hebrew Temple
Oct 18 Approved as a Unitarian Church by American Unitarian Association; 30 persons signified intention of joining
Oct 25 Sunday School organized
Nov 10 First board meeting
Dec 2 Women’s Alliance organized
Dec 11 Articles of Association recorded
Dec The Covenant selected
1904
Spring Unity Club (young people’s group) formed
Nov 18 First annual meeting
1905
Apr 19 Rev. Newbert resigned
Oct 16 Dr. Frank S.C. Wicks named minister (served 1905-1938)
Dec 10 Dr. Wicks installed
Dec P.R. Pamphlet, “Progress,” published
1906
Jan 17 Bible and letter to Dr. Wicks received from Edward Everett Hale
1910
Building committee headed by Hugh McK Landon formed to plan a new church building
1911
Jan 15 Dedication service of Alabama Street church
Feb 7 Trustees received T. C. Steele painting which now hangs in Backus Library
1915
Jan 12 Church weekly bulletin mentioned in Trustees’ records
Junior Alliance for girls organized
1916
Jan 14 Laymen’s League organized
1917
Dr. Wicks received D.D. degree from Meadville Theological Seminary
Sunday night “Get Acquainted Meetings” started
1918
Discussion group formed by Robert Tracy
1919
Wednesday evening discussion group formed
1920
Jan 20 Miss Edith E. Beane became first Director of Religious Education
More Light Guild (women’s evening group) organized
1921
Jan 26 Channing Club, a young people’s religious union group, organized
Oct 9 First meeting of men’s class sponsored by Laymen’s League
1922
Apr 28 Indianapolis Unitarian Bulletin appeared as mailable publication
Poetry Club organized
1923
Jan 21 First All Souls radio broadcast of evening church service
Oct 28 Miss Gladys Wheeler appointed D.R.E.
1924
Jan 27 Thomas Paine bust unveiled
May 24 Elizabethan Club (young women’s alliance) organized; named in honor of Elizabeth Goodnow Wicks
Sept Mrs. Emma Abbott Allen appointed D.R.E.
1925
Feb 6 “A religious center with a civic circumference” first appeared on front page of church bulletin
Apr 26 Ralph Waldo Emerson bust unveiled
1927
Mar 3 Women’s Alliance renamed the Jessy Wallin Heywood Alliance
1929
Mar 16 Jocoseria Club founded
Nov 29 Church Council organized
1930
Church received bequest from Miss Frances Goodnow for memorial to Mrs. Elizabeth Goodnow Wicks
Oct 19 Elizabeth Goodnow Wicks Chapel dedicated
1931
Men’s Adult Class became discussion group
Rental library started
1932
Bequest from J.H. Sennett became nucleus of Endowment Fund
1933
Birth Control League held organizational meeting at All Souls (later became Planned Parenthood)
1935
Sept Sunday morning Adult Forum formed
May Dr. E. Burdette Backus guest speaker at All Souls during Dr. Wicks’ illness
1936
Jun Truman LaPierre Hayes became assistant minister; served one year
Oct 11 Rev. Hayes ordained
1937
Jun 8 Mrs. Fritz Schaefer became D.R.E.
Nov 13 Dr. Wicks resigned
1938
Jan 2 Triangle Club organized
Apr 17 Dr. Wicks preached last sermon as minister of All Souls
May 1 Congregation named Dr. Backus as minister
Jun 13 Trustees explored possibility of producing radio programs
Sept 25 Dr. Backus installed (served 1938-1954)
Sept Mrs. E. Burdette Backus became Director of young people’s group
1939
Jan The Pattern on the Mountain, Lenten manual by Dr. Backus published by A.U.A.
Apr 22 Second All Souls radio broadcast 10:30 A.M.
1940
Dr. Backus received D.D. degree from Meadville Theological School
Elizabeth Doeppers Opportunity Shop (fund raising project) started--continued until Jun 1964
Quest Club (young adult group) organized
1941
Jun 10 Miss Leone Patrick became D.R.E.
1942
Nov 22 Regular Sunday afternoon radio programs began on station WIRE
1944
Feb 4 Elizabeth Wright Tripp Memorial Fund established
Oct 1 Young Adult discussion group formed—later called Unitarian Forum
1945
Jun 12 Mrs. Ernest Jones became D.R.E.
Oct 5 Portrait of Dr. Wicks presented to church by Mr. Frank Shields
1946
Apr 9 Trustees by unanimous vote accepted Negroes into full church membership
May 5 Book of Dr. Backus’ radio sermons, If Thought Be Free, published
Oct. 4 Mortgage burning ceremony, indicating that chapel addition debt had been liquidated
1947
Jun Mrs. Wilma Johnson became D.R.E.
1948
May 12 Board of Trustees enlarged from nine to twelve members
Sept 12 Dr. Backus started Sunday morning Bible study; continued through spring 1951;
complete coverage of the Bible
Nov Channing Club (young adults) formed; active more than 10 years
Nov 14 Literature table established
Dec 19 Dr. Backus’ second volume of radio sermons, The Sheep and the Goats, published
1949
Jan 31 R.E. Committee presented first of Spring Lecture series
1950
Apr 30 Dr. Wicks, 82 years old, presented last sermon
1951
Feb 15 John Hanly Morgan called to be assistant minister
Oct A pamphlet, The Way Called Unitarian, published by Dr. Backus
1952
Jan 30 Rev. Morgan resigned
Apr 1 The beginning of the church choir
Jun Mrs. Ernest Jones again became D.R.E.
Oct 10 Revised constitution adopted
Dec 21 Dr. Wicks died
Dec 23 Memorial service at All Souls for Dr. Wicks
1953
May 2 All Souls’ fiftieth anniversary celebration
Dec 31 Dr. Backus retired
1954
Mar 28 Jack Mendelsohn installed as minister (served 1954-1959)
Mar Mrs. Fritz Shaefer again appointed D.R.E.
1955
May 26 Dr. Backus died at his California home
Sept 14 Congregation voted without dissent to proceed with fund drive for new church building
Sept 25 Memorial service for Dr. Backus at church
Nov 29 Indianapolis Memorial Society organized
1956
Mar 18 Congregation voted to buy “the house next door” for the overcrowded church school
May 11 Congregation chose 7.6 acre site on East 56th and Channing Road for the new church
1957
Sept 1 Mrs. Louise Brannon appointed D.R.E.
Sept 29 Channing Road Field Day at the new church site
Frontiers of Knowledge pulpit series started, Dr. Robert Risk, committee chairman
Nov 10 First Frontiers of Knowledge speaker, Dr. Herman J. Muller, I.U. Zoology prof. and Nobel Prize Winner
1958
Dorothy Huffman begins 35 years of service as church organist
May 13 Official names given to sections of the new church: Frank S.C. Wicks Educational Wing; E. Burdette Backus
Library; Mary S. Boyd Library of the old church became a library for young people
Nov 11 A cooperative preschool was offered facilities at the new church
1959
Feb 8 Final service at 1453 N. Alabama St. A procession led by Jack Mendelsohn carried historic relics and
symbols to the new church. First coffee hour at the new church
Apr Congregation voted to approve the merger of the A.U.A. and the Universalist Church of America
Jun 14 New church dedicated
Jack Mendelsohn resigned to become minister of Arlington Street Unitarian Church,
Boston, Mass.
Sept The Northeast Cooperative Preschool opens in our new building
Oct 18 Rev. John G. MacKinnon installed (served 1959-1969)
1960
Dinner discussion groups organized
Fund Raisers organized (became The Group)
Mendelsohn Club (young adults) organized
Mar 12 Memorial service for Mrs. F.S.C. Wicks (Katherine Gibson)
Mar 20 Congregation voted against merger of A.U.A. and Universalist
Church of America reversing the affirmative vote of April 1959
Apr 12 Board approved organization of a local chapter of Unitarian Fellowship for Social Justice
1961
May A.U.A. and Universalist Church of America merged forming UUA— All Souls became member congregation
Sept Book Review Group organized by Jessy Wallin Heywood Alliance
1962
Jan Mrs. Marjorie Leaming appointed D.R.E.
Feb The Southside Fellowship chartered by Unitarian Universalist Association; active only a short time
Jun Board granted James R. Wentz, All Souls member, a Pearl Mock scholarship at Meadville Theological
School
Nov Holtkamp pipe organ installed
1963
Aug U.U.F.S.J. gave overnight lodging and meals at the church to a busload of 41 delegates enroute to and from
the Freedom March in Washington, D.C.
Oct 17 Congregation approved joining proposed OVUUD
Laymen’s League held its last meeting
1964
Sept Double sessions began on Sunday morning because of overcrowded church school
1965
Jan 1 Mrs. Robert J. Mekeel appointed interim D.R.E.
Spring First Fine Arts Festival (Channing Fair)
Sept Mrs. Jeanne Vogt appointed D.R.E.
1966
Feb Foreign Policy Discussion Group approved by the Council and Board
Jun 19 James Wentz, Pearl Mock Scholarship recipient, ordained
1967
Sept Church loaned $500 from Endowment Fund to a Montgomery, Alabama fellowship for their building program
Oct 21 First meeting of the Singles Club
Dec U.U.F.S.J. joined HOME (Housing Opportunity Multiplied Ecumenically), a corporation formed to provide
low-cost housing
1968
Jan 9 Board voted to join HOME
Mar 20 UU State Legislative Conference held at All Souls
Book The MacKinnon Years published
All Souls began participation in I.I.C.H.E. (Indianapolis Interreligious Commission on Human Equality) U.U.F.S.J.
paid annual $85 assessment.
1969
Jan 31 John MacKinnon retired
Rev. Paul H. Beattie became minister
Sept Rev. W. Alexander McEachern appointed D.R.E.
Paul Beattie installed (served 1969-1982)
1970
Junior Triangle Club became the Trapezoid Club
Mar 14 Couples Club organized
Mar 17 All Souls hosted Ohio Valley Fellowship of Liberal Religious Youth Spring Conference
1971
Jan Circle Unitarian Universalist Fellowship formed
1972
Sept 23 Annual meeting of the Fellowship of Religious Humanists held at All Souls
Sept The Chalice Children (a high school group) organized
Oct Men’s luncheon group formed
1973
Jan Began Sunday morning radio broadcasts by Paul Beattie
Apr 27 The Ohio Valley Unitarian Universalist Women’s Spring Conference held at All Souls
Nov The Helen Heywood Lewis Endowment Fund for support of the Backus Library established by the
Heywood family
1974
July All Souls member James W. Barnhart elected to the UUA board
Oct The Touchstone, monthly church newsletter, first issued
1975
Sept Single Sunday morning service resumed
Oct 15 F. Craig Coleman ordained
Oct Paul Beattie began sabbatical for study and ministry at Meadville Theological School; John MacKinnon
became interim minister
1976
Mar Mary Branson became interim D.R.E.
Sept Mrs. Judy Barker appointed D.R.E.
Oct First annual all-church retreat at McCormicks Creek State Park sponsored by Religious Education Comm.
1977
Jan Radio programs discontinued
Mrs. Diane Neuhauser, Christian Theological Seminary student, became intern minister
May The Marrieds organized
Paul Beattie elected president of Fellowship of Religious Humanists
Sept 75th Anniversary Committee formed; Mrs. Mary Branson became chairperson
Nov The Group sponsored a blood draw— established All Souls as a Blood Club
1978
Feb 12 The John G. MacKinnon Scholarship Fund established by the Endowment Committee
Mar 19 At a special meeting the congregation voted to support the continued tenure of Paul Beattie as minister
Apr 16 First recognition service for 50 year and 25 year members
May 75th anniversary celebrated at a congregational dinner, Rev. Paul N. Carnes, UUA President, the featured
speaker
Jun 18 George Newton resigned after 18 years as Director of Music
Sept Mary Branson appointed D.R.E.
1979
Jan 7 First meeting of UUI (Unitarian Universalist Church of Indianapolis)
Apr 8 A butternut wood sculpture by Adolfo Doddoli, commissioned by the Fine Arts Committee, unveiled in the
foyer
Jun 14 Last meeting of the More Light Guild
Sept Extended Church School and Adult Meeting held on Sunday morning. The adult meeting became Adult
Forum.
Nov First Thanksgiving Family Bread Service
1980
Feb First Annual Chili Supper, sponsored by the Religious Education Department
1981
Apr Our church and minister featured in the April issue of Indianapolis Magazine in an article by Jan Peterson
Sept Paul Beattie announced his intention to resign from All Souls effective August 31, 1982
Mother’s Day Out Program began
Oct 23 Annual conference of Fellowship of Religious Humanists held at All Souls
1982
Jun 13 Reception for Paul and Lucinda Beattie on the day of his last sermon as minister of All Souls
Jun The Trapezoid Room renamed the Beattie Room
Sept Fred Campbell became interim minister—served two years
Oct 12 Flaming Chalice award presented by the Ohio Valley UU District to Alvaretta Stoddard, who started the
Ohio Valley District in the 1920s
1983
Sept Memorial Service for Minister Emeritus John G. MacKinnon held at All Souls
1984
Feb 5 Congregation voted to call Rev. W. Edward Harris as its minister
May 20 Establishment of Memorial Garden approved by the Board
Jun 3 Rev. Shermie Shafer ordained
Sept 9 W. Edward Harris conducted his first service as new minister (served 1984-1992)
1985
Jun 19 First meeting of Women’s Evening Network
1986
Jun 8 Mary Branson resigned as D.R.E.
Sept Mary Glaeser became intern minister and interim D.R.E.
1987
May 31 Mary Glaeser ordained
Sept Marilyn Johnson became interim D.R.E.
1988
Mar 13 Richard Ruach became intern minister
Sept Kathy Cody and Raymonde Howell became interim Co-Directors of Religious Education Program
Oct John Morehouse became intern minister
Dec 18 The fire department was called to the church when the boiler went dry, overheated, and melted down
1989
Mar 19 At a special meeting the congregation voted to borrow up to $150,000 to rebuild the heating system
May 8 Housing Project Committee met for the first time—became Housing Helpers
Jun 11 A memorial service for former All Souls minister Paul Beattie was held at All Souls
Oct Teresa Terrill became intern minister
1990
Sept Nancy Renner Kennedy became D.R.E.
1991
Apr All Souls Children introduce first Indiana Earth Day Celebration with a song
Sept First Board of Trustees Retreat held at Benedictine Center
Oct Vann Knight became intern minister
1992
Jan Ed Harris announced his intention to resign effective August 31, 1992
Jun 7 Vann Knight ordained
Jun 14 Ed Harris’ last sermon as minister of All Souls; Congregation designated him “Minister Emeritus”
Coffee Hour became “Family Social Hour”
Sept Larry McGinty became interim minister
1993
Jan Heating system indebtedness retired
May 2 Congregation named the Rev. Dr. Bruce Clear as minister
May Community Outreach Committee organized
Jun Dorothy Huffman resigned as organist after 35 years of service; Congregation designated her “Organist
Emerita”
Sept Bruce Clear became minister of All Souls
All Souls Men’s Group formed
Flood relief gathered for people of Hale, Missouri
Oct 31 Dedication of stained glass sculpture in church foyer— memorial to Elizabeth Gordon Knowles
Nov 28 Bruce Clear installed—UUA President John Buehrens, speaker--(served 1993-present)
1994
The Sanctuary is renovated
Sept Something For Everyone (supper and interactive discussion) initiated
Oct First church walk for AIDS
1995
All Souls helps foster a new UU Fellowship in Danville, IN led by the Rev. W. Edward Harris
Feb Formation of Young Adult Group—YAGS
1996
April 28 Jack Mendelsohn returns to All Souls pulpit for the first time in 37 years
June The Unitarian Universalist General Assembly held for the first time in Indianapolis; Indianapolis
UU churches served on Steering Committee
Nov 10 The Reverend Larry McGinty died
Nov 24 Dr. Bruce Clear and Nancy Renner are married at church following the Sunday morning service
1997
Mar The beginning of our association with our partner church in Sepsi St. George, Romania
Aug Bruce and Nancy Clear begin tradition of summer open house
Sept Danville U.U. Community Church of Hendricks County dedicates their new church home
Dec Jesus Metropolitan Community Church begins renting our sanctuary for Sunday night services
1998
May All Souls joins the Interfaith Alliance
Sept The Community Carnival begins
1999
Jun The Centennial Celebration Capital Campaign Committee (5 C’s) is formed
2000
Mother’s Day Out Program renamed Parent’s Day Out
April The Heartland UU District is formed from the Ohio Valley and Michigan Districts’ merger
2001
March Adeline Lewis Berentes died. She was the granddaughter of Jessy Wallin Heywood, and hence the last
direct link to the original 13 members
May Mother’s Day Youth Service began
Sept 11, 14 All Souls held two candlelight memorial services following the terrorist attacks
Nov Partner Church Committee raised funds to send Bruce and Nancy Renner Clear to the dedication of the
Partner Church in Romania
2002
Jan The Second Century Task Force is formed
The Jesus Metropolitan Community Church moves from All Souls to its own building
All Souls is prominently featured in the Community of Faith section in The Indianapolis Star
2003
April 19 Our 100th Anniversary birthday celebration held at the Murat
Sept 21 A special Centennial Year Celebration featuring UUA Executive Vice President Kay Montgomery,
former minister Jack Mendelsohn, Minister Emeritus W. Edward Harris was held. Following a luncheon, the
congregation toured the Alabama Street church
Dec The Jessy Wallin Heywood Alliance celebrates 100 continuous years as an All Souls organization
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