Theists, atheists, agnostics and freethinkers now have a new place to converge to learn from each other, seek inspiration and gain insight.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Norwich at 67-69 Main St. in downtown opened in February. Window banners with messages “COME AS YOU ARE” and “BE WHO YOU ARE,” and the congregation's logo of blue, yellow and white waves alert you when you have arrived at the modern worship and gathering space with white walls and shiny wood flooring with room for 43 people.

The Rev. David Horst calls the board’s decision to move to this highly visible downtown Norwich location a "pretty bold move” and thinks the timing is “very favorable.”

“Even though Norwich has had its "ups and downs," he said, "Right now there seems to be a movement and some genuine money and talent behind the renewal. So this congregation, in its way, wants to be a part of that."

Already, the congregation has begun participating in Norwich’s First Friday events with a rotating art gallery and is planning mid-week group-sitting meditations and discussion classes. It will also rent its space to nonprofit organizations (arts, cultural and religious groups).

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religious movement characterized by a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning,” Horst said. Members are “guided by a dynamic ‘living tradition,’ summarized by the Six Religious Sources and Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism.”

People of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcomed.

Topics during Sunday services vary, Horst said. Guest presenters might read a poem, talk about Christian or Hebrew scripture, Buddhism, earth-based traditions, science and religion, or critical moments in their lives and what they learned from their failures and successes.

“I like hearing about the philosophies of different religions,” said Congregation Treasurer Rick Stevenson of Colchester, a member for about 25 years. "It's worth the ride."

Stevenson said they have lots of interesting discussions and the services are usually very good. Afterwards, about 10 people stay for coffee hour and discuss “all kinds of stuff,” which provides a “real sense of community,” he said.

Even though Stevenson was raised Catholic, he said it "never really stuck" with him. "There are a lot of aspects to Catholicism that I really like so I haven't rejected it, but I just prefer something that is more open minded."

At one time, he said he was attending both a Catholic church and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Norwich.

Horst said many of their members here and around the country also attend other Catholic and Protestant Churches and synagogues, which they refer to as "come-outers."

"When somebody new comes, we say you don't have to give anything up to be a part of a Unitarian Universalist (congregation). If we can enhance your religious growth and journey, we want to do that. So if you identify as Unitarian Universalist, that's your choice. We have a lot of hyphenated people like Unitarian Universalist-Buddhists, Unitarian Universalist-Catholics.”

Unitarian Universalist congregations are rooted in American Protestantism, but as they’ve grown and evolved over hundreds of years, they have become a very open, inclusive faith and very much rely on the different sources and religions of the world and affirm them, said Horst, 67.

Horst is a consulting minister here in Norwich, an affiliate minister at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation New London, and a community minister and outreach worker at the New London Homeless Hospitality Center. He served Unitarian Universalist congregations in the Boston area, Nantucket and New Jersey for 20 years prior to settling in Norwich in 2019.

Horst holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Harvard Divinity School and a Certificate in Spiritual Guidance from the Unitarian Universalist Rowe Center. Horst’s previous career included public relations, advertising, arts administration and events management.

After Unitarian Universalist Church of Norwich sold its 148 Broadway building in 2009, members worshipped at various locations.

With a big building and a smaller group, Stevenson said, "We felt that the way that the money was going out, that we wouldn't be able to serve the community much longer.” In their new location, he said they are here for a longer period of time.

The congregation is known for its local, national and international philanthropy. In November 2022, the congregation donated $5,000 to St. Vincent de Paul Place and pledged another $5,000 for early March. It also donated $500 to the Sikh Art Gallery in Norwich in December 2022.

Other recent local recipients include the Animal Welfare League of New London County, Norwich Arts Center, Norwich Free Academy and Planned Parenthood. Nationally and internationally, the congregation supports the American Friends of Kenya, Black Pilots of America, Doctors Without Borders, Starr King School for the Ministry and World Central Kitchen.

“In September 2022, the congregation changed its name to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Norwich to better reflect the religious diversity of its members,” Horst said.

Historically, the congregation has experienced many transitions and names over the years. It was originally founded in Norwich in 1820 as the Society of United Christian Friends, and probably met in members’ homes or area churches, surmised Norwich City Historian Dale Plummer during a telephone interview. The society erected a church at Cliff and Main streets (where Chelsea Groton Bank stands today) and dedicated it in 1822; visiting ministers occupied the pulpit, according to Frances Manwaring Caulkins’ book “History of Norwich, Connecticut,” second edition.

She also documented that the First Universalist Society in Norwich was formally organized in 1838 on the same Main Street site facing Franklin Square and a new brick church replaced the old one in 1841. It incorporated in 1842 and was enlarged and rededicated in 1848. A new church, later called the Unitarian Universalist Church of Norwich, was erected in 1910 at 148 Broadway. It acquired the nickname “The Church of the Good Shepherd” for the subject of its large stained glass window, Plummer said.

The congregation’s new location at 67-69 Main St. in Downtown Norwich “is ideal,” because it freed members to “support a lot of community” efforts, Stevenson said.

Sunday services are held at 9:30 a.m., followed by refreshments and a fellowship time. For more information or to access the Zoom link to Sunday services, go to Facebook: Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Norwich CT, or its website: uunorwichct.org. Phone number: 860-889-1062. Park on the street or in the parking garage across the street.

The Rev. David Horst is founder of The Open Circle, a spiritual direction practice for individuals and groups based in Norwich. View his blog at: The-Open-Circle.com.

Jan Tormay, a longtime Norwich resident, now lives in Westerly.