Our History
In 1943, our church opened as Christ Memorial Unity Church in a storefront on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Rev. Herb Schneider and his wife Lois Rainwater were the founders and first minister. The congregation soon bought the current church property, built the current sanctuary themselves, and held a dedication of the new church in December, 1945.
Membership in the church swelled to nearly 600 members but the congregation was restless about its religious affiliation. Over the next 15 years, the church shifted from a Unity church, to an independent church, and then became a Unitarian church in 1961. Although 1961 was also the year that the American Unitarian Association merged with the Universalist Church of America to become the Unitarian Universalist Associaiton, our church did not become officially Unitarian Universalist until 1976. A cross built into the balcony of the choir loft in our sanctuary reminds us of our historical affiliation.
The current church with the original sanctuary and later classroom and office additions.
Our Ministers:
Herb Schneider - 1943 to 1964
George Whitney - 1964 to 1968
Dennis Kuby - 1969 to 1971
Tom McMullen - 1971 to 1973
Jon Dobrer - 1974 to 1991
Bob Kaufmann (Interim) - 1991 to 1992
Suzanne Spencer - 1992 tp 1997
Nancy Roemheld (Interim) - 1997 -to1999
Jay Atkinson - 1999 to 2011 (elected Emeritus)
Mike Young (Interim ) - 2011 to 2012
Darrel Richey - 2012 to 2015
Nica Guinn (contract) - 2015 to 2016
Hannah Petrie - 2016 to 2021
Rick Hoyt-McDaniels (Interim) - 2022 to 2025