Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church

1960 to 2010

On May 8, 1957, the Board of Trustees of First Unitarian Church of Louisville bought 9.3 acres of the Russell property at our present location for $42,500.

It was funded by a loan from the American Unitarian Association, capital campaign pledges from members, and other contributors. ( Legend has it that the historic farmhouse was part of the Underground Railroad and a “cooling out” station where people trying to escape to the North could wait until it was safe to cross the Ohio River. There may be some credence to this as a neighboring farmhouse had hidden rooms where runaway slaves were kept from the slave catchers and police.) Operating as the Suburban Chapel of the First Unitarian, our church met in the farmhouse with Sunday school classes held in the basement and adult services upstairs. Originally, TJ had no minister. Instead members led the services with an occasional outside speaker. Children were taught by volunteers with the UUA curriculum and First Unitarian members donated supplies and funds.

In 1960, our church officially became the Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. Other names considered were: Jefferson Unitarian Fellowship, Weston Unitarian Fellowship, Third Unitarian Fellowship (with Clifton UU being the presumed second) and Brownsboro Road Fellowship.

Read about the history behind the pictures and download the book  Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church 1960 – 2010