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Updated 7/4/2024

The First Unitarian Church in New Bedford

  • M

    MA

Institution/Business Type: Religious Organization

The First Unitarian Church in New Bedford was established in 1708. The building in which it currently resides was built in 1830. The Parish House, constructed in 1890, houses the Tryworks, one of New England's longest running Coffee Houses.

Our mission is to encourage diversity and mutual acceptance and to work for positive change in ourselves and the communities in which we live.

We rent our facilities for weddings, receptions, meetings, theatre rehearsals/performances, and workshops.

We are a proud partner of AHA! New Bedford, which offers a meeting place for over 60 community partners on the 2nd Thursday of the month, when artistic expression is everywhere and open to everyone: encouraging fun, provoking-thought and nurturing the soul.

We are in our 40th year of hosting an Annual Jazz service featuring musicians from all over the SouthCoast that is free and open to the public.

 

Find Me

Jessica DeCicco-Carey (She/Her)
Job Title: Administrator
Phone: (508) 994-9686
Address:
71 8th St.
New Bedford, MA 02740

Social Media:

Additional Content:

About

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Religious Organization

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Independent

Year Founded:

1962

Overview

Institution/Business Type:

Religious Organization

Legal Status:

Nonprofit - Independent

Year Founded:

1962

Disciplines

Primary Discipline:

Non-Arts / Non-Humanities

Additional Disciplines:

  • Non-Arts / Non-Humanities

Activities and Services

Activities and Services:

  • Venue Rental
  • Performance / Concert / Reading
  • Professional Network Gatherings / Events
  • Wedding / Parties / Private Gatherings
  • Community Arts
  • Exhibitions
Seasons Active: fall, spring, summer, winter
Events Per Year: 10

Communities

Populations Engaged:

  • Adults
  • Artists
  • Houseless/Housing Insecure Individuals
  • Families
  • General Public
  • LGBTQ Populations
  • Nonprofits

Geographic Reach:

  • Town / City

Accessibility of Services

Accessibility of Services:

  • Access accommodations for people who use a wheelchair and have limited mobility
  • Access accommodations for people who are Deaf and hard-of-hearing

Media Gallery

I Have Worked With

Affiliations and Accomplishments

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • Unitarian Universalist Association

Professional Associations

Professional Associations:

  • Unitarian Universalist Association

Venues for Rent/Use

Sanctuary or Meeting Room
Venue Address: 291 Union Street New Bedford, MA 02740
Venue Phone: 5089949686
Venue Type: Church/Temple Sanctuary Space
Venue Fee Range Minimum: $300
Venue Fee Range Maximum: $1500
Venue Capacity: 350
Venue Accessibility: Access accommodations for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing. Facility is physically accessible (such as parking, entrances, accessible restrooms, seating, backstage).
Venue Seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall
Venue Features: Livestream Capability, Piano, Sound System, WiFi
Tryworks Auditorium
Venue Address: 71 8th Street New Bedford, MA 02740
Venue Phone: 5089949686
Venue Type: Auditorium
Venue Fee Range Minimum: $150
Venue Fee Range Maximum: $1000
Venue Capacity: 125
Venue Accessibility: Facility is physically accessible (such as parking, entrances, accessible restrooms, seating, backstage).
Stage Details: Proscenium Theater
Venue Seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall
Venue Features: Dance Floor, Dressing Room(s), Piano, WiFi
Additional Comments: Tryworks Auditorium was the home to the longest running Coffee House in the Country which ran for 38 years by the legendary Maggie Peirce.