Unitarian Historical Society

The Society was founded in 1915 and exists to encourage and support the study of all aspects of Unitarian history, including that of constituent and related traditions such as English Presbyterianism, the General Baptists, Universalist churches, the Methodist Unitarian movement, the Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and other bodies and groups.

The Society is run by an elected Council and members of the Society receive a copy of its Transactions each April, details of which can be found on this site.

Annual Meeting

An annual general meeting and lecture is held alongside the annual meetings of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches at a different location each year. Speakers in recent years have included Dr David Wykes, Revd Dr Leonard Smith, Alan Ruston, Professor M.A. Stewart, Rev Andrew Hill, Graham Hague and Dr Alison Kennedy.

In 2007 the speaker was Rev Dr Ann Peart (Principal, Unitarian College, Manchester) whose topic was "'Deconsidered by Men' - Women and the British Unitarian movement before 1904." The 2008 lecture was given at the University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield by Professor David Bebbington (University of Stirling). His topic was 'Unitarian Members of Parliament in the Nineteenth Century'.

The 2009 meeting will be held at the University of Chester when the speaker will be the Rev Andrew Hill. The title of his paper will be "'Corporate Suicide is the next best thing that lies before them': the Unitarian General Baptists after 1830 and before".