The Spark! messages of inspiration from the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

October 22nd, 2026

"OLYMPIA UNITARIANS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY"

Jeff Goltz

This is the third of a series of ten articles exploring the history of the Unitarian Church in the late Nineteenth Century. Previous articles, and the Introduction to the series, can be accessed on the OUUC website here: 19th Century History of Unitarianism in Olympia

PART III: REV. DAVID UTTER, MINISTER

With the departure of Rev. Kimball in May 1872, the Olympia Unitarian Society had no permanent minister until 1875, when the Congregation called the Rev. David Utter to be its permanent minister. (In the interim, several ministers served the Congregation – more on some of those people in a later article.)

Rev. Utter was born in Vernon, Indiana, graduated from Butler University, and then entered Harvard Divinity School, graduating in 1871. His first church assignment was in Belfast, Maine, and three years later he came to Olympia, traveling from the east coast in January via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in February.

He was to be stationed in Olympia, but also serve “the whole Sound country.” At the time, Olympia’s population was just over 1,200, with the population of Thurston County approaching 3,000.

Rev. Utter later wrote the following in an article for the Olympia Tribune about those early days of Olympia church.

“When the Olympia church was first organized the town was booming. All hopes were high and there seemed every reason to believe that the future great city of the Sound country would be located on Budd’s Inlet and the capital city become a great metropolis. Some who listen to the reading of this paper will remember the Christmas eve when the bells were wildly rung to signify that Olympia was to be the terminus of the Northern Pacific railway and all hearts were gladdened with visions of future wealth and prosperity.”

That prediction about the railroad did not come to pass. Despite efforts of the community, including fundraising by the Unitarians, Olympia did not become the terminus for the railroad, and Seattle and Tacoma claimed major metropolis status. (We did secure and keep the capital, however. That also is an interesting bit of history, much of which is described in Rogues, Buffoons, & Statesmen.)

Rev. Utter preached in various halls around Olympia and Tumwater, including Tacoma Hall, also known as Olympic Hall, and usually conducted two services a day, sometimes three, adding Tumwater and sometimes Chambers Prairie to the list of venues. And he served as an officer of the Washington State House of Representatives, presumably as chaplain. During his tenure in Olympia, he was responsible for the construction of the first Unitarian church building in Olympia. (More on that in the next article.)

According to a 1907 article in the Washington Standard, “Mr. Utter was one of the best educated and most popular ministers who ever made our city his field of labor . . . .” Some press articles reviewing his sermons reflected this view. The June 5, 1875, edition of the Washington Standard reported:

“Mr. Utter recognizes all the human family as belonging to a common brotherhood. He believes that there is implanted within every human breast a preference to do right, and that erring manhood can be easier led to paths of rectitude by moral suasion than by arousing the antagonisms of his being. In this he manifests a deep knowledge of human nature, founded upon the only safe basis of an opinion, that of impartial observation.”

The local press thoroughly covered Rev. Utter and the church, perhaps in part because, as noted in a previous article, the publisher of the Washington Standard, John Miller, was a member.

Utter’s influence was felt well beyond Thurston County. In addition to preaching in Seattle and elsewhere, he published the Unitarian Advocate, a monthly publication “devoted to the interests of Liberal Christianity upon the Pacific Coast. It was the first religious newspaper in the Washington Territory.

However, though Unitarianism was off to a sound start in the South Sound, there were some bumps along the way. Apparently, Rev. Utter’s messages in the Unitarian Advocate rubbed some in the mainstream congregations the wrong way. For example, the Board of the Methodist Episcopal church in Tumwater voted to prohibit Rev. Utter from preaching in that church. The Puget Sound Argus commented that “Mr. Utter’s forte seems to be making aggressive warfare upon orthodox denominations.” In one op-ed piece, he was accused of being “(U)tterly ignorant.”

Rev. Utter left Olympia in 1880. Turning down a call to serve the Walla Walla church, he ceased publishing the Unitarian Advocate and accepted a call to serve a Unitarian church in Kansas City. He later served in Chicago, Salt Lake City, and Denver, interrupting his ministerial duties to take a bicycle tour in Europe in 1886.

Rev. Utter’s death is noted in the 1926-27 Unitarian Yearbook, which states:

“The record of his work shows the quality of the man, -- unfailing gentleness and kindness in all personal relations, uncompromising energy and persistence in all good causes, straightforwardness in all relations, and straight thinking on all subjects wherever they led him.”

Next, on November 12, Part IV: Olympia’s First Unitarian Church Building

"Special Announcement"

Rev. Mary and the OUUC Board

This is a reprint of the announcement that was sent out on Friday, October 16.

Dear OUUC Community,

I am so grateful for the ministry we have shared for these past seven years.

It has been a privilege to serve as your settled minister.

I’m writing to let you know that this will be my last year as the minister at

OUUC. I plan to retire from full-time ministry at the end of July 2027. This

decision is personal and what is best for me and my family. I am weary

and looking forward to more time to care for myself and my relationships. I

will also take some time to see what emerges next for my ministry.

This may come as a surprise and will likely bring up many different feelings.

I have many feelings, too. Transitions are hard. Over these next 10

months, we will have time and space to practice the spiritual work of

celebration and saying goodbye.

We can be proud of the work that we have done together these past seven

years. We have weathered many storms, including a pandemic and

massive political and cultural upheaval. Amid all this, together we have

created beautiful and inspiring worship services, crafted a new vision and

mission, deepened our shared covenant, strengthened our organization,

cared for our building, focused our justice work, created welcoming space

for visitors and new members, and revitalized our program for children.

Through it all, we have cared for each other and deepened relationships

within and beyond our walls.

I am especially proud of our work to build physical and social infrastructure

at OUUC. We have made Thursday evenings a time of sharing food and

fellowship, learning together and connection. Due to your generosity, the

congregation is debt free, and the building is fully electric and well

maintained. The staff team has expanded to include support for online

ministry and member engagement. OUUC has robust teams of volunteers

to support our shared ministry. The Board of Trustees has created

committees to support the work of sharing power and making decisions. In

a time when much of what we counted on is being dismantled, we have

been building OUUC to be strong and sustainable well into the future.

I have been in touch with UUA regional staff and Transitions Office staff,

who are ready to support both you and me through this transition. On

Sunday, October 18, OUUC’s regional liaison, Isaac Castro, will be onsite

to co-lead the worship service with me and offer an after-service forum at

12:15 about how the region can assist over these next months. Please join

us!

OUUC board leaders and I have talked about the next steps and how to

best support a healthy goodbye. Board leaders are already hard at work

taking the next steps regarding this transition. (See board president, Sally

Alhadeff’s letter below.)

Over the next months, I’ll offer opportunities to drop in to share tea,

cookies, and stories about OUUC and our time together. And, if you would

like an appointment with me, please reach out by email.

Ministry is always shared. Thanks to all of you and the staff of this

congregation, many who do so much, visible and less visible.

I will be leaving after serving you for eight years, a bit longer than average.

That you have had several long-term and dedicated ministers speaks well

of you as a congregation and offers hope for the minister that you select

next and your ministry in the future.

I feel so fortunate to have been part of your congregational story. I love

you and I believe in you as a congregation. You are what makes the

church, and I think you will face this change as you have faced the

challenges of these last years---with thoughtfulness, courage, and care.

Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in this meaningful

ministry. For the next 10 months, let’s celebrate our shared ministry!

With gratitude,

Rev. Mary Mangione Gear

minister@ouuc.org

Dear OUUC Community,

Our congregation has been fortunate to have Reverend Mary as our settled

minister for more than seven years. We have been through a lot together

and accomplished a great deal. Although her departure next year may raise

feelings of uncertainty or concern, please rest assured we have been

preparing for the transition and OUUC is on solid ground.

The Board and Reverend Mary have made transition planning a normal

part of our congregational life by talking openly about it and preparing

together. For example, this year we adjusted the minister’s salary to be in

line with what a future minister might expect.

The Board has begun working with UUA staff in the Congregational

Transitions office and with Congregational Life staff for the Pacific Western

Region. They will support us in the coming months.

At its October meeting, the Board of Trustees will begin discussing options

for our search. Ministerial searches have changed somewhat over the past

seven or eight years. According to UUA staff, there are multiple options for

transitional ministry – we could follow the same approach used in our last

search or consider a different one.

In the coming weeks and months, the Board will engage the congregation,

utilize UUA resources, and decide on a path based on what we learn.

Please join the Board for an after-church forum on October 25 at 12:15 pm

in the sanctuary. We originally entitled it “Thinking About the Future”, but

“Transitions and the Future” may better reflect the conversations we hope

to have.

The Board looks forward to working with Reverend Mary, the staff, and the

congregation as we take the next steps together with gratitude and grace.

Sally Alhadeff

Board President

"Tea with Rev. Mary"

(and cookies)

In this time of transition, come chat with Rev. Mary. When we’re onsite at OUUC, she’ll provide tea and cookies. When we’re online, please bring your own!

You can drop in to share stories about OUUC and our time together and share feelings about this change.

If you would like an appointment with Rev. Mary, please contact her by email at minister@ouuc.org

Teas at OUUC:

October 22, Thursday at 4 pm

December 5, Saturday at 10 am

Teas on Zoom (BYOT!):

November 4, Wednesday at 1 pm

November 18, Wednesday at 5:30 pm

December 15, Tuesday at 4 pm

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86375795970?pwd=N5g3F8028aj4vCe0ihYa3KcgMsGvUn.1

Meeting ID: 863 7579 5970