Riverside in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Universalist-Unitarian Church

1891

Unitarian-Universalist Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 1, 2021

1. Unitarian-Universalist Church Marker

Inscription.
Building designed in Norman Gothic style by architect A.C. Willard and constructed with Arizona sandstone by A.W.Boggs. The founding pastor was George H. Deere.

Erected by City of Riverside. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Unitarian Universalism (UUism) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 33° 58.927′ N, 117° 22.292′ W. Marker is in Riverside, California, in Riverside County. It is at the intersection of Mission Inn Avenue and Lemon Street, on the right when traveling west on Mission Inn Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3525 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside CA 92501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Inland Empire,

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Congregational Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Riverside Municipal Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); First Church of Christ Scientist (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Riverside Art Center and Museum (about 300 feet away); This Olive Tree (about 400 feet away); Old City Hall

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(about 400 feet away); Bell From Locomotive 66 (about 500 feet away); The Nanjing Bell (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

Also see . . .
1. Universalist Unitarian Church -- Our Unique History. (Submitted on July 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.)
2. Landmarks of the City of Riverside (#3). Architect A. C. Willard designed this 1891 Norman Gothic Revival style church building, which was constructed of Arizona sandstone. Reverend George H. Deere founded Riverside’s first Universalist congregation in 1881. (Submitted on June 6, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

3. National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. Added to the National Register 9/18/1978. — Excerpt:

The Universalist State Convention was established in a temporary chapel in Riverside, California on June 1st 1887. This temporary chapel, a modified schoolhouse, was sold by the church in 1890, the proceeds being placed in a building fund toward a new place of worship. In 1891 Riverside's Universalists set to work on thei rnew church.

As one of the oldest buildings remaining in the city, the All Souls Universalist Church exists as a record of early settlement. It was also the friendship between the founding pastor, Rev. George H. Deere and Charles Loring
Photographed by Craig Baker, July 1, 2021

2. Universalist-Unitarian Church Marker
of Minneapolis, a former parishoner when Rev. Deere had served a Universalist Church at Rochester, Minn, that eventually led to many gifts to the City of Riverside such as Loring Opera House. Rev. Deere also left an important mark on the growth of Riverside in serving 17 years as President of the School Board and as President of the County Board of Education.

Riverside's All Souls Church remains a monument, in addition to its striking architecture, as the oldest Universalist or Unitarian church west of the Rocky Mountains. In this it shares in the tradition of the roots of a continuing protestant reformation that in this country was participated in by such noted thinkers as Joseph Priestley, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Brown, Ellery Charming etc. The All Souls Church is one of ten local historical landmarks, along with the Mission Inn, the Municipal Auditorium, The Loring Building and Loring Opera House, in close vicinity of each other which make up a contemplated Riverside historical district.

(Submitted on June 25, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

Additional commentary.
1. The Naming Convention of the Church
The name Universalist Unitarian is intentional with the

Universalist-Unitarian Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 1, 2021

3. Universalist-Unitarian Church

facility. Often, churches that were part of the Universalist Church of America, and predecessor denominations, prior to the merger with the American Unitarian Association chose to use the name Universalist Unitarian (as opposed to Unitarian Universalist) to emphasize their Universalist heritage.

Culturally, the main historical difference between Unitarianism and Universalism is: Unitarianism is a Mainline Christian denomination that rejects several tenants of Calvinism, particularly the doctrine of Total Depravity or Original Sin, and instead emphasized character education. Universalism is an Evangelical Christian denomination that historically emphasized the eventual reunion of all souls with God, or Universal Salvation with some disagreements about whether hell was either impermanent or absent within their theology.

— Submitted July 26, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.

Photographed by Craig Baker, July 1, 2021

4. Universalist-Unitarian Church

Stained Glass image. Click for full size.

courtesy of National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1978

5. Stained Glass

Photo is from the National Register of Historic Places nomination.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 406 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on June 25, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 3, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on June 25, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.