The Unitarian Movement

The roots of the Unitarian movement lie principally in the Protestant
Reformation of the 16th century. At that time, people in many countries
across Europe began to claim:

The right to read and interpret the Bible for themselves.
The right to seek a direct relationship with God, without the mediation
of priest or church.
The right to set their own conscience against the claims
of religious institutions.

Many came to question 'orthodox' Christian doctrine and to return
to a purer and simpler faith - their beliefs included:

The Unity or unipersonality of God, as opposed to the doctrine
of the Trinity - hence the name 'Unitarian'.
The humanity, as opposed to the divinity, of Christ.
The worth of human beings, as opposed to ideas of original sin,
inherited guilt and innate depravity.
The universal salvation of all souls, as opposed to the doctrine
that most of humanity is predestined to damnation.

The earliest organised Unitarian movements were founded in the
16th century in Poland and Transylvania. In Britain, a number of early
radical reformers professed Unitarian beliefs in the 16th and 17th
centuries, some suffering imprisonment and martyrdom.

An organised Unitarian movement did not emerge in Britain until the late
18th century. The first avowedly Unitarian church in Britain was opened
in Essex Street, London, in 1774. Denominational structures were
developed during the 19th century, finally uniting in the present
General Assembly in 1928. Today Unitarian movements exist in
a number of countries around the world. Most originated independently
by processes of spiritual evolution similar to that which occurred in Britain.

Further information & links about Unitarians are available here : :