THIS TALK WAS DELIVERED BY HANK HASKELL AT THE BUILDING DEDICATION ON MARCH 17, 2007
(Members will find additional historical recollections in Members' Area of this website)
Perhaps I was asked to give you a brief history because my parents were Charter Members of this select group, or because my grandfather was a Unitarian minister in Plymouth, MA and my wife Pat has always told me I look like a Minister.
In October 1977 a group off 30 persons interested in a liberal religion met to discuss the possible formation of a Unitarian church on Hilton Head Island. One month later a smaller group drew up an application to the UUA for a charter to be known as the Unitarian Fellowship of Hilton Head Island, SC. The minutes of that meeting said, “To put the fellowship on a sound financial basis $1.00 was collected from each member.” - My father probably was responsible for that statement.
Pat Atwood is the only one remaining with us from that original group.
Hilton Head Unitarians were like gypsies. They first met in peoples' homes and then at Sea Pines Academy. The school was not always available or conducive to worship so they were always looking elsewhere to meet. Like gypsies, the UUs encountered adversity. They met at the Methodist church off Pope Avenue but after their second time some Methodists felt that since Unitarians didn't believe in the Trinity and/or divinity of Jesus, they really shouldn't meet in their Sanctuary.
It was back to Sea Pines Academy for a while.
Next place was Todd Ballentine's nursery school off New Orleans Road. There a couple of years and it was there that it was decided to serve food before service since most members left immediately after the survive - ignoring the food. During this period Allen Jones and others found a varied assortment of great lay speakers. In the early 1980s Rev. Manuel Holland came on board as our own minister-we moved again to the Marriott Center - now the Courtyard Bldg.
Since the time Manuel Holland was made our minister emeritus he has continued to serve this congregation, offering us his constant support and encouragement, his wisdom and council in helping us reach good decisions, his frequent inspiration in our pulpit and now, I've just discovered, as a carpenter in our new library! Manuel-we all thank you!
Rev. Frank Anderson was a retired UU minister living in Savannah. He joined us in April 1991. A superb and thought provoking speaker, Frank helped the fellowship grow and gave it stability.
In 1991 the fellowship moved to Temple Beth Yam. This provided a more spiritual space with some room for growth.
On December 7, 2003, this small congregation took a challenging and momentous step. It approved a thoroughly developed comprehensive plan, which authorized the formation of a search committee to seek its first full time minister. At the same time, it authorized a capital campaign to raise funds to build a “home of our own.” These actions energized the congregation and Dan Tweel emerged as the leader of the group of seven families that put their faith and gave their money on the line to buy this land.
Mary Alice and Bill Walker led the search committee which brought Rev. Tom, Rebecca and Will to us.
From 2001 to 2006 Rev. Nan White worked part-time and was extremely helpful in guiding us towards our goals.
Now renamed the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Low Country -wouldn't those charter members be proud! Last Sunday I glanced through the wonderful new hymnals given to us by the late David Blaeuer. In the back of this book I found a quote from the distinguished anthropologist Margaret Mead-I heard Dr. Mead speak when I was a student at Bowdoin College years ago. She said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has.”