On May 17, 1859 the First Universalist Church of Urbana, IL was organized with 56 charter members. During these early years they claimed Abraham Lincoln as a visitor- during his circuit riding days. When he was criticized having attended a Universalist service Lincoln was heard to reply, “Parson, I used to think it took the smartest kind of man to uphold and defend Universalism, but now I think differently, for I believe it is the easiest doctrine to defend I have yet heard.”

The group met in various homes, on the court house lawn, and occasionally store buildings. There was a spread of Universalism in the rural areas of America, as a backlash to the rampant evangelism of the day.