Unitarian Universalism is a spiritual home for individuals throughout the world who seek to live the values that represent the best of human striving. UU’s look to all the world’s religions, sciences, and philosophies as sources of spiritual and practical life wisdom. You don’t have to renounce any spiritual beliefs to be a Unitarian Universalist. There are, for example, UU Agnostics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Humanists and Atheists, who bring to UUism the best of the traditions which have nutured them.

A brief history of Unitarianism: The term Unitarian refers back to the early Christian heretics who questioned the concept of the Trinity. The “Unitarian heresy” persisted among clusters of dissenters across the centuries. The debate took on renewed urgency during the turmoil of the Reformation era, with many following those who maintained that there is no basis in the Bible for a “Triune God”. But the leaders of the Reformation actually joined the Pope in attacking those who questioned “the Trinity”, and martyred one of their major spokesmen, Michael Servetus. Nonetheless, dissenting churches managed to establish a foothold in parts of Europe, notably Transylvania and the British Isles, and, later, via the Puritans, into the “new world” as strand within the Congregational churches of New England.

Another “heretical” movement, the Universalists, who preached universal salvation, also developed deep roots in New England, and in southeastern Quebec.

Eventually these two movements recognized communalities in their outlooks and teachings, and in 1961, they merged to form Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

The Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) was created the same year as a national grouping under the continental framework of the UUA. Over time, the relationship between the two organizations evolved, leading to the independence of the CUC in 2002.

The Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Congregation has been a presence on the West Island since 1953.