BRUU History

BRUU President Angie Carrera receiving proclamation from Manassas City Council on October 28, 2024
honoring 25 years in building at Church and Main streets

BRUU began as a result of a conversation between two women at a conference of the National Organization of Women in 1981. Over lunch one asked the other, “do you think there are enough religious liberals in Prince William County to start a fellowship?”

They pondered this until the end of the day, at which point Doris Galvin called Ralph Stutzman, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fairfax, and Cathy Ring called her circle of friends. The result was a wine and cheese meeting at a local community center. Ralph organized the discussions and about two dozen religious liberals showed up. It was agreed that a fellowship should be established in Prince William County and that it would be named the Bull Run Unitarian Universalists, or BRUU. Carl Himmer spoke at the first service.

We bought the building at the corner of Church and Main streets in 1999.  In 2024 the City Council issued a proclamation honoring BRUU for 25 years at that location.

A presentation by Rev. Charlotte Lehmann of BRUU and Rev. Milton Rogers of Grace Methodist about the church building that we currently own and use, designed by Albert Speiden, that has been in continuous use as a church since its construction in the 1920’s is available to view as a video recording.

Learn more about our historic building.

2019 – 2022

  • Annease Hastings retired from Music Director after 35 years. BRUU held a celebration of her 35 year career at BRUU.
  • The Board and Reopening Committee helped bring in-person services option back to our building.
  • Rita Romano, President
  • BRUU added technology equipment and skills, and an AV Team to provide Sunday Services on zoom during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

2017 – 2018

  • BRUU celebrated Annease Hastings for 30 years as our Music Director
  • Piano in sanctuary replaced due to generous donations
  • Rev. Charlotte Lehmann selected and called to serve as settled minister

2017

  • Kristen Worthington became first full time DRE in BRUU’s history
  • First Adult Retreat
  • Completed long term project of flooring replacement throughout much of the building

2016

  • Congregational soul searching and probe
  • Settled minister, Rev Scott McNeil, leaves
  • Lara Proffit leaves as Director of Religious Education
  • Mary Kadlubowski served as Acting Director of Religious Education
  • BRUU chooses Rev. Madelyn Campbell as interim minister
  • BRUU welcomes Kristen Worthington, DRE
  • $20,000 Chalice Lighter Grant ($5K for 4 years) awarded for capital improvement
  • Beth Roemmelt, President

2015

  • Scott McNeill selected and called to serve as full time minister
  • New DRE, Lara Proffit, is welcomed to BRUU
  • Worship Associates program implemented
  • New emergency egress sanctuary doors
  • Added trench to back wall to fix recurring leak and flooding on lower level
  • Insulated attic, repaired roofing, converted to tankless hot water heater
  • Henry Hastings volunteered to be Treasurer upon Paul Galvin’s retirement

2014

  • Welcomed Elizabeth Jones, new child care coordinator
  • Chris McCann, DRE, left BRUU
  • Gun Free Zone resolution
  • LGBTQ group formed
  • Revised Personnel Manual

2013

  • Greg Ward, Interim Minister
  • Program Council formed
  • Ross Weinberg, President

2011 – 2012

  • BRUU chooses Rev. Greg Ward as interim minister until June 2014, and starts process for calling a full-time minister for future service.
  • Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd accepts senior minister position at River Road UU.
  • Ross Weinberg, President

 2010 – 2011

  • Chris McCann serves as interim Religious Education Coordinator then becomes Director of Religious Education
  • BRUU members perform the Vagina Monologues raising funds for BARN transitional housing
  • Discovery Dinners are relaunched
  • BRUU choirs perform at the National Christmas Tree
  • BRUUtification Team raises funds to replace the floors in the Fellowship Hall as well as perform external building repairs
  • BRUU Writer’s Group publishes anthology
  • Brian Pace, President

2008 – 2009

  • BRUU is proud to receive one of the 2008 Breakthrough Congregation Awards at the UU General Assembly.
  • Social Justice Committee raises over $1,500 for SERVE at Catfish Honeymoon concert
  • Annease Hastings celebrates 20 years as BRUU Music Director
  • Mime Troupe travels to local UU congregations
  • Religious Education Committee implements Safe Congregations plan.
  • Farewell to Michele Grove, Interim Director of Religious Education
  • Gail Dickert hired as ¾ time Director of Religious Education
  • BRUU kitchen renovated
  • Reverend Nancy and Jonathan Ladd welcome their first daughter, Ruth
  • BRUU hosts Prince William County’s first GSA prom
  • Charlie Grymes, President

2006 – 2007

  • BRUU welcomes Michele Grove, Interim Director of RE
  • BRUU celebrates 25th Anniversary with a month-long party
  • Marriage Equality witness event, many couples publicly reaffirm vows
  • BRUU Orchestra Group formed
  • President Emily Cameron resigns, Greg Rouillard selected as Interim President
  • Growth Task Force formed

2005 – 2006

  • Mary Kadlubowski, Acting Coordinator of RE
  • Annease Hastings, first full time Music Director
  • Sanctuary is refreshed, dais rebuilt, more seating added
  • Discovery Dinners, Evensong Services, Chalice Groups, and Mime Troupe all begin
  • BRUU passes Marriage Equality statement
  • BRUU surpasses 220 in membership; tips into mid-size category
  • Unsung Hero: Karen Fitzgerald
  • Emily Cameron, President

2004 – 2005

  • Nancy McDonald ordained and installed as BRUU’s minister, October 24, 2004
  • Green Sanctuary granted formal recognition
  • The Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans, Inc (CUUPS) of BRUU formed
  • Approximately 75 singers in all three choirs
  • BRUU passes 200 member mark
  • BRUU’s first Unsung Hero: Mike Freeland
  • Janette Muir, President

2003 – 2004

  • BRUU has 174 members
  • Interim minister Rev. Jack Young completes his time at BRUU
  • BRUU calls Nancy McDonald as its next settled minister
  • New social action projects such as Pedals for Progress and ACTS
  • Soup and Serve Sunday program established
  • Canvass drive sets a new pledge record
  • Janette Muir, President

2003

  • Rev. Allan leaves BRUU in February
  • BRUU Fellowship Hall remodeling completed
  • Rev. Jack Young begins as Interim Minister in June
  • “Green Sanctuary” project kicks off in full force

2002

  • Membership roles reduced to 159 (inactive members removed)
  • BRUU Hall renovation begins
  • Senior youth plan and hold first district Youth Conference at BRUU
  • Mission Statement approved by congregation

2001

  • Nina Lomax appointed half-time Director of RE
  • BRUU opens to the community for prayer/meditation vigils following September 11 terrorist attacks
  • Membership counted at 170

2000

  • Building dedicated and first service held in BRUU’s new home
  • Installation of first full-time minister, Rev. Kathleen Allan
  • BRUU counts 140 members

1999

  • Pledge campaign sets records
  • BRUU calls Rev. Kathleen Allan as first full-time settled minister
  • BRUU sells land on Prince William Parkway and purchases Old Grace United Methodist Building at 9350 Main St., Manassas
  • History of Church Building at 9350 Main Street (Stories of Preservation and Progress)
  • BRUU counts 130 members

1997 – 1998

  • BRUU purchases property on Prince William Parkway
  • Roberta Finkelstein leaves BRUU, Rev. Kathleen Allan arrives as Extension Minister
  • Welcoming Congregation statement approved

1995 – 1996

  • BRUU homepage hits the Internet
  • Unity in the Community
  • Decision for two services in Primitive Baptist Chapel
  • BRUU counts 102 members

1993 – 1994

  • Roberta Finkelstein moves from 1/4 to 1/2 time
  • Dolores Miller hired as part-time RE director
  • Teen mentoring / teen pregnancy project
  • Mission statement developed and adopted
  • First canvass of every member
  • New hymnals

1990 – 1992

  • BRUU represented on Prince William Care Givers
  • Beth Cox leaves BRUU; Roberta Finkelstein arrives as 1/4 time minister
  • Services moved to Primitive Baptist Chapel with RE in the BRUU House
  • BRUU counts between 40 and 50 members

1986 – 1989

  • Moved from battlefield to Muriel Humphries
  • BRUU decides to center in Manassas
  • BRUU services are lay-led for four years
  • Beth Cox serves as student minister 1989-1990
  • Temporary stay at Parkside Middle School
  • Rented BRUU House
  • Annease Hastings arrives

1981 – 1985

  • Moved to battlefield, first BRUU House
  • First canvass, child dedications, choir
  • Craig Coleman, 1/4 time minister, 1984-1985