Who We Are
A Community for All
First Parish Unitarian Universalist-Canton, a Neponset River Unitarian Universalist Community in Massachusetts is a diverse congregation of people from many dimensions of life, with a variety of previous religious backgrounds (or none) represented among us. Most would say their present spiritual paths are ever unfolding. We enjoy our differences, as well as our commonalities. Perhaps you will find yourself at home here, too.
Our members and friends come not only from Canton but also from a wide variety of regional communities, such as Attleboro, Braintree, Brockton, Dedham, Norton, Norwood, Quincy, Randoph, Sharon, Stoughton, Walpole, Westwood, and even more! We’ve recently honored this geographic diversity in part through the addition of Neponset River to our name, though our geographic diversity is not captured fully by that name. In expanding our name, we also honor our commitment to ecological values and concerns.
A Welcoming Congregation
Our rainbow flag outside represents our warm welcome to all who enter our yellow doors seeking a religious home, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, nonbinary, and transgender people, as well as persons of all ages, races, ethnicities, classes, and physical abilities, as affirmed by our vote in January 2004 to be designated a “Welcoming Congregation.” We renew our commitment and certification as a “Welcoming Congregation” by our larger Unitarian Universalist Association every year through a wide variety of activities.
Our Faith
Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal, not creedal, religion. This means our members do not profess to any prescribed doctrines or beliefs. Instead, we covenant with each other (we make promises to each other), affirming in a very practical sense how we want to live.
Our Community
Our Meetinghouse, located at 1508 Washington Street, is accessible to wheelchair users and those who are hearing impaired. Our history as a congregation is rich and deep within Canton, and we are connected to our larger faith tradition nationally and internationally. We invite you to explore more content in this website to understand us more fully in this larger context.