Contents:

• History of the Union University Church
• Church Center is a Station on the Underground Railroad
• List of Pastors

History of the Union University Church

 Sunday worship was about the extent of activity in this early church.  Many members
missed participation in activities and fellowship.  Consequently, in November, 1935, a group of
ladies met to discuss organizing a society.  This idea was met with enthusiasm, and the Women’s
Guild was formed.  An objective of this new group was the establishment of a Sunday School
which soon followed with classes held in the Parish House of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.

 By 1935, the University had appointed a full time Director of Religious Activities who
also served as its Chaplain and Pastor of the Union Church.  This arrangement existed until 1950
when the church was reorganized, and a full-time Pastor was hired.  By that time, the village, as
well as the two educational institutions had grown.  Moreover, due to the increased obligations of
the University’s Director of Religious Activities, he had less time to give to the Union Church.
As the church and its Sunday School grew, there was increasing demand for a Church Center and
a parsonage.  In 1953, the church was incorporated, and the Bassett property at the corner of
Main and Church Streets was purchased and converted to a Church Center.  In 1962, the church
bought a village home as a parsonage.  During that same year, the congregation voted to erect an
addition to the Church Center since the structure no longer met all the needs of the church and
Sunday School.  This single-story addition included rest rooms, kitchen, fellowship/dining hall,
and storage area/furnace room.

 Since the completion of the addition during the spring of 1971, the Church Center has
become a community center as well.  A token or nominal fee is charged for its use by church non-
related or non-sponsored groups.  The Union University Church has always regarded utilization
of the center as part of our mission to the community.

 In 1999, when the congregation raised money to renovate the original section of the
Church Center, many members of the community expressed their appreciation for the church’s
ministry by donating to the renovation efforts.  The project was completed May 1st, 2000.
 
 

Church Center Once Station on the Underground Railroad

According to Phelan's book, the station was run by the Bayless Bassett family who moved to Allegany County in 1826.  Mrs. James Scholes confirmed the existence of the station, saying that she was taken to the upstairs of the Bassett house by her grandfather who showed her a concealed opening into the attic space under the eaves on the north side of the house.  He told her "when guests were led to the spot they voiced special approval of those holding quarters -- felt very protected and safe,  'No one will find me here.'"  (p. 119)

When the members of the Union University Church were preparing to renovate the oldest part of the Church Center a few years ago, several people poking around upstairs discovered an opening into the north eaves and commented, "Look at all of this space back here.  There must be some way we can use it."  Little did we know that more than a hundred years earlier, the Bassetts had found an excellent way to put that space to work for God's kingdom.

Pastors of the Union University Church