Our Minister
Rev. Karen Bergmann Marsh has been a Unitarian Universalist for over 30 years. In addition to serving the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston, Rev. Marsh is a chaplain at several hospitals in Baltimore, MD. Prior to serving UUF, she was the affiliated community minister at Towson Unitarian Universalist Church (TUUC) and a ministerial intern at All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa. She graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry in May 2020, was granted preliminary fellowship by the Unitarian Universalist Associationiin April 2021, and ordained by TUUC in May 2022. Before answering the call of ministry, Rev. Marsh was an active lay leader of TUUC and worked first as an environmental scientist and then as an environmental attorney.
Unitarian Universalists of Fallston History
Our origin connects to the historic First Unitarian Church of Baltimore and the establishment of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County. The Unitarian Universalists of Fallston grew out of those beginnings.
A Bequest and a Search
Helen Coon, one of our founding members, died in 1996 and left us a generous and totally unexpected bequest! After careful consideration, we decided to build our own home and establish a trust fund in Helen’s memory with annual proceeds to be used in ways to benefit the community.
After we were unsuccessful for over a year in securing property, Donald and Mary Coomes were approached about purchasing the lot they owned adjacent to their home on Old Fallston Road . They agreed to sell the property to us for a church.
A Bequest and a Search
Helen Coon, one of our founding members, died in 1996 and left us a generous and totally unexpected bequest! After careful consideration, we decided to build our own home and establish a trust fund in Helen’s memory with annual proceeds to be used in ways to benefit the community.
After we were unsuccessful for over a year in securing property, Donald and Mary Coomes were approached about purchasing the lot they owned adjacent to their home on Old Fallston Road . They agreed to sell the property to us for a church.
Making a Church Home
Architect Mark Stromdahl of Edmeades and Stromdahl, Ltd. worked with the congregation to develop a design that would be compatible with the community and signal to passersby that here was a church.
Don Coomes, who was a talented amateur stained glass artisan, got caught up in our plans and offered to do our stained glass window. However, he became terminally ill during the final stages of construction. His daughter, Michelle Coomes O’Brien, who was taught the art of stained glass by her father, offered to fulfill her father’s promise by taking the design of Maria Annegarn with the chalice and Tree of Life to create our stained glass window.
Architect Mark Stromdahl of Edmeades and Stromdahl, Ltd. worked with the congregation to develop a design that would be compatible with the community and signal to passersby that here was a church.
Don Coomes, who was a talented amateur stained glass artisan, got caught up in our plans and offered to do our stained glass window. However, he became terminally ill during the final stages of construction. His daughter, Michelle Coomes O’Brien, who was taught the art of stained glass by her father, offered to fulfill her father’s promise by taking the design of Maria Annegarn with the chalice and Tree of Life to create our stained glass window.
March 1999
We moved into our new home at 1127 Old Fallston Road the first week of January 1999 and held our first weekly service on January 3rd. Although none of our members at the time had children under the age of 12, we began offering Sunday School and child care because children are important to us.
In May of 2003, we changed our name to the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston to more clearly identify ourselves with the community.
Because our purpose is to provide a home for people with open minds seeking deeper meaning in their lives through spiritual enrichment and service to others, our building is available as a meeting place for like-minded organizations and community activities.
In May of 2003, we changed our name to the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston to more clearly identify ourselves with the community.
Because our purpose is to provide a home for people with open minds seeking deeper meaning in their lives through spiritual enrichment and service to others, our building is available as a meeting place for like-minded organizations and community activities.