The Catawba Valley Unitarian Fellowship (CVUF) began in 1962 with 15 charter members. In 1967, they moved to a house across from Lenoir-Rhyne College (now Lenoir-Rhyne University). With Morton Gaines and Rebecca Ames among the early leaders, the group soon grew to 40 members.
Recession hit in 1977, people moved away, and the fellowship became inactive in 1979. In 1983, CVUF was reactivated, stimulated by people like John and Diane Eoll. Its first guest minister, in 1986, was the Rev. William Hammond, who visited monthly for three years.
In 1988, a 27-member CVUF moved to its own building at 109-11th Ave., NW. Incorporating its Universalist heritage into its name, CVUF became the Unitarian Universalist Church of Catawba Valley (UUCCV) in 1990.
By 1995, UUCCV had a new mission statement and plan, and sought its own quarter-time minister. Rev. Thomas Payne served from 1996-1998, and the Rev. Barry Whittemore was Interim Minister from 1999-2000.
The Rev. Bob MacDicken was called as minister beginning in January, 2002.
In June, 2007, the UUCCV congregation moved into our permanent church home at 833-5th Street SE, in the Kenworth section of Hickory.
In 2012 we will be celebrating our 50th Congregational Anniversary!
The flaming chalice unites us in worship and symbolizes the spirit of our work. The flame and the chalice were brought together by Austrian artist Hans Deutsch in 1941 for the Unitarian Service Committee, which was then helping Jews escape Nazi persecution. The two circles surrounding many chalice designs, including the stained glass window over our church entrance, represent the consolidation of Unitarianism and Universalism in 1961. In 2007, the church commissioned artist Eileen Ross to paint a chalice unique to our congregation. Her painting hangs in the entry way of our building. Today, while there is no single official interpretation of the chalice’s meaning, many see it as representing community, sharing and service.
