The Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal is celebrating its 150th year in 2009 with an eye on the future and a look at its historic past.

The church traces its congregational history back to the Fell family - a family that heavily influenced the foundations of McLean County. Jesse Fell owned Bloomington's first newspaper, secured the location of Illinois State (Normal) University near a railway junction north of the city, and then developed the town of Normal around it.

Fell and his brother Kersey brought 20 or so like-minded people to Kersey's office in 1859 and they founded the Free Congregational Society. Records indicate the congregation included Unitarians, Universalists, Quakers and Spiritualists, and that there was some controversy over whether to align with any one sect.

They established a tradition of open internal debate and a free pulpit. In the early years, the congregation met in Phoenix Hall at 108-110 W. Washington St. Jesse Fell, the first person to sign the membership list, negotiated the appointment of the Rev. Charles Gordon Ames of Somerville, Mass., as minister.

The first sermon, "The Right and Duty of Independent Thinking in Matters of Religion," advocated a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. These principles remain an important part of the church.

Ames, an ardent abolitionist, also created a template for the church's emphasis on social justice by helping form the Bloomington Aid Society, the city's first charitable organization. Social justice continues to be a key pursuit, as shown by the more recent activities of the late Scott Eatherly, founder of Neville House for victims of domestic abuse, and the late Francis Irvin, co-founder of Mid Central Community Action and an activist in numerous other causes.

The Free Congregational Society constructed its own building in 1868 at the southeast corner of East and Jefferson streets. Members changed the church name in 1885 to the Unitarian Church of Bloomington, partly to distinguish them from the more orthodox Congregationalist movement.

When Bloomington city inspectors declared the aging downtown structure unsafe for occupancy in 1958, the congregation met at several community locations until opening the current church building at 1613 E. Emerson St. in 1960.

Unitarians and a compatible religious group known as Universalists (so-called because of a belief in universal salvation) merged on the national level in 1961 so they could have a stronger liberal religious voice. The Bloomington church's name reflects the merger.

The Unitarian Universalist Church does not impose a formal creed on members but encourages a belief in "the dignity and worth of each individual, the use of the democratic method in our governance, and the responsible search by individuals for their religious truths."

The church's vision statement adds: "Our church will be recognized as a center that supports community involvement, dedicated to progressive religious values, peace, justice and social equity."

The denomination has about 1,000 churches and fellowships nationwide with 220,000 members (although according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 629,000 individuals identified themselves as Unitarian Universalist in 2001). The Bloomington-Normal church is somewhat above average size with about 270 voting members.

The Rev. James Hobart is the interim senior minister. The church is conducting a national search to find a successor for the Rev. David Robins, who was pastor 22 years before moving to New Hampshire in 2007.

While the church is relatively small, some of the community's most notable figures have been members. Over the years, the church has been a religious home for:

• Two Illinois governors - Joseph "Private Joe" Fifer, who served from 1888-92, and Adlai E. Stevenson II (1949-52). Fifer was also a state senator and Stevenson was twice the Democratic candidate for U.S. president and was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

• The last territorial and first state governor of Colorado, John L. Routt (1875-79 and 1891-93).

• The first woman elected to the Illinois Senate, Florence Fifer Bohrer (1924-1932).

• Several publishers of The Pantagraph, including Loring Merwin (1937-67).