Our Buildings

First Unitarian Universalist Society in NewtonFUUSN is located at 1326 Washington Street in West Newton, Massachusetts, at the corner of Washington and Highland Streets.

Office Hours

The congregation’s office is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Sundays. Contact our office.

Air Quality

FUUSN has updated HVAC systems throughout the building to minimize the risk of COVID transmission.

It Has Always Been Our Building

Some say FUUSN’s  building reminds them of an Episcopal church (!), but actually it was built by our congregation.  Dedicated in 1906, the congregation’s choice of design is far from that of a traditional New England Unitarian meetinghouse, but it reflects the architectural style then in vogue.  Today as Chair of Buildings and Grounds, Laurel Farnsworth works to care for the building to serve our purposes now and to ensure that the building will be around for many more years. 

Do you know the exterior building materials? “Weymouth seam-face granite with trimmings of Indiana limestone” according to an article in the Newton Graphic.  The sections housing the Parish Hall, office wing, original kitchen, and Banquet hall (now called the Headstart Room) were built of brick and half-timbering, distinguishing them from the Sanctuary and six-story bell tower.

Do you know why the layout so often requires people to walk through the kitchen? The original building included an interior courtyard.  In 1954, the Society built a substantial addition that filled in the courtyard with classrooms, a children’s chapel, and a new kitchen.