historically known church located arlington boulevard virginia founded church washington suburbs history taken progressive causes sex marriage virginia virginia church speak favor racial integration sanctuary building designed local architect concrete structure listed national_register_of_historic_places church buildings designed virginia history early 1940s leaders established church washington encouraged suburban members start new communities respective areas established suburbs support funds mother church souls meeting held home located september following services held spaces sunday members attend morning services souls meeting spaces included associate pastor souls arlington church minister membership arlington congregation reached church school enrollment year members voted establish independent church approved resolution stated resolved petitioned terminate fellowship souls church march resolved fellowship organized affiliated membership continued grow congregation needed find permanent meeting place church purchased acre lot intersection present day arlington boulevard south george mason drive november ground broken church building located 1st place south assistance gave congregation loan original building designed architect church member brick building containing auditorium kitchen office minister meeting rooms service new building held june dedicated october church membership reached success arlington church convinced souls minister davies establish later renamed organization founded assist establishing additional congregations washington metropolitan area souls arlington church members religious education wing designed bailey added church building increasing size auditorium adding classrooms offices following year church building reached capacity congregation began holding services sundays church school enrollment began holding services sundays church purchased adjoining property constructed half story brick building congregations washington suburbs arlington church largest congregation began planning new facility chose prominent local architect known modernist work design church building church committee wrote confident concept design wide experience original creative genius promise distinctive building portray structural form spirit congregation church leaders invited congregation suggestions design included architectural style express inspiring tradition virginia free form stained glass resulting building represent past congregation wanted building reflect liberal progressive beliefs leadership position according minister spent lot time congregation incorporating values theology congregation design building finished design late church began seeking financing shortly design included plans main sanctuary adjoining wing built time budget concerns construction sanctuary carried contracting firm total cost approximately dedication held march sermon entitled building faith future sanctuary churches designed church building virginia church designs christ maryland christ called washington mid late 1960s attendance church services enrollment church school experienced dramatic decreases congregation replaced minister began campaign attract new members attendance gradually increased years membership reached church continued thrive decade late 1980s church members decided space needed congregation held meetings church expansion years finally members approved construction addition sanctuary new wing designed built maryland dedicated october addition included classrooms office space chapel meetings rooms design new wing praised architectural critics received excellence architecture award virginia chapter additional expansion designed virginia built virginia added includes hall space activity room sanctuary listed september national_register_of_historic_places november following year effort building named historic landmark church leaders said hoping national registry people realize physical presence group community matters says world member congregation currently led union representative artist musician served years sex marriage virginia prominent members past present include representative connecticut member virginia openly gay elected official activism like congregations liberal church active social justice causes dialogue history founded church leaders wrote church like churches dedicated progressive transformation individual social life religion accordance advancing knowledge growing vision mankind time local organizations segregated church operated children summer camp open races 1950s church places black white individuals met discuss race relations ways improve society minister founded group promoted development democratic principles human relationship members active 1950s 1960s protesting segregation unfair treatments minorities minister president fellowship social justice received letter gratitude following landmark supreme_court decision segregation washington public schools illegal virginia governor sought input state citizens virginia church spoke favor integration october church received bomb threat morning sermon temple larger effort headquartered arlington institutions affiliated friendly judaism bomb threat widely condemned area churches arlington congregation released statement saying intimidated harassed change way practiced religion church continued support civil rights causes 1960s registering black voters renaming building demolished honor souls minister killed protesting alabama 1970s church members continued advocate social justice causes including limited women rights lgbt rights affordable housing prominent projects garden senior center nonprofit retirement housing community low income senior citizens opened expanded 1990s demolished rented nonprofit groups including chapter habitat humanity arlington street people assistance network 1990s jewish community met library fellowship rooms design location church located acre lot southwest corner arlington boulevard near neighborhood property extends south place south residential street church located large parking lot stood south west sides property church attendees access building wing parking lot concrete concrete pedestrian bridge beneath steel canopy south church memorial wall garden dedicated garden includes concrete walls paths benches concrete blocks inscribed names church members found garden south garden playground built enclosed wooden fence sanctuary faces road intersection northeast corner property wooded composed sections sanctuary rectangular shaped story reinforced concrete building addition story rectangular shaped concrete structure south sanctuary addition story square shaped concrete structure east addition southeast corner sanctuary additions complement original building scale style material pattern fulfill original plans expand church additional space educational administrative social functions set lower height sanctuary sanctuary concrete building designed style features concrete flat roof concrete block foundation concrete wall panels square windows north east west sides building level narrow fixed light windows floor east west sides sanctuary bays wide north south sides feature bays large central bay smaller bay bays defined tall concrete columns spaced feet apart stand ground underside roof pale blue wooden doors flanked black wooden frames provide access sanctuary narrow doors north main entrance sanctuary south addition sited addition runs entire south sanctuary extends west past building building includes social hall classrooms office space like sanctuary addition features flat roof concrete foundation concrete walls lighter color sanctuary story terrace originally southeast corner addition replaced addition named celebration center celebration center faced light colored concrete random stone facing east similar sanctuary features roof wrapping windows sanctuary meeting space measures feet feet features polished reinforced concrete floor set large grid pattern north east west walls faced brick ceiling exposed concrete sanctuary design allows meeting space natural lighting complimented patterned rows light fixtures ceiling fixtures original black painted metal cylinders designed foot high concrete platform stage covered wood north wall features wheelchair ramp obscured decorative wood screen seating meeting space composed chairs staircase south meeting space lead floor east staircase provides access choir balcony concrete stairs elevator installed chose place choir south space considered desirable location choir balcony features stepped stairs choir members large pipe organ ground floor north south corridor plan east west corridor south giving access lower floor includes meeting storage spaces features concrete floors areas concrete block dividing walls concrete ceilings
Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington