About Us

Founded in 1819 as the Baptist Church of Christ in Granville and St. Albans, the United Church of Granville has long been an integral part of Granville, Ohio. Our deep ties to Denison University, as well as our peace and justice work, have left an indelible mark on this community. You can read more about our rich history here.

We are a welcoming and affirming community,

meaning that all persons are embraced here, regardless of preferred pronouns, gender identity, or sexual orientation. We believe that all are fashioned in the image and likeness of the Divine, with no exceptions.

We are dually-affiliated with the American Baptist Churches USA and the United Church of Christ. We also have deep ties to the Alliance of Baptists, Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, and the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists.

Sepia Oval image of our beautiful church from years ago with custom woodwork, columns, organ pipes and arches

But do not let the word ‘Baptist’ scare you! Here at the United Church of Granville, we are non-creedal (we don’t tell you what to believe) and hold sacred the freedom to discern for yourself how the Holy is at work in your life. Some of us are Baptist, while others are UCC, and still others are Unitarian Universalist, agnostic, humanist, and even atheist.

What holds us together are our shared values of love, peace, and justice in the world, as well as our desire to follow in the ways of Jesus.

Tom and Pastor Alissia smiling at each other sitting on the couch in the Granville Center for the Arts which is in the annex to our church

People gathered around pastor to pray and send her to Palestine in 2024

So come as you are, complete with doubts,
fears, joys, hopes and questions.
Our commitment is to learn and grow together
on the journey.

couple standing and singing in a church service among other parish members

Baby pointing at hymns in hymnal as if she can read

Staff

Rev. Alissia Thompson comes to UCG from the Chicagoland area after serving as a co-interim pastor and healthcare chaplain. She graduated with her MDiv from the University of Chicago Divinity School ('17) and is a proud alum of Miami University, where she played collegiate volleyball and graduated with a BA in Psychology. Alissia is also a licensed psycho-therapist. She lives in Newark with her wife, Kieta, and their flock of furry and feathered friends. She will happily talk sports, sneakers, and spirituality, and is always up for a good cup of coffee and some great conversation. Please stop by UCG anytime to say hello!

Rev. Daniel Clark is our Bridge Pastor, providing leadership while Pastor Alissia is on leave. He is an organizer, advocate, and artist who serves as a Field Strategist with Industrious Labs, working to advance climate, jobs, and justice in legacy steelmaking communities. He is also the founder of the Ohio Interfaith Collective, a training coordinator with Faith in Public Life, one half of the psychedelic folk-rock duo Landlocked Sailor, and lives with his spouse and teenage children on a small farm near Utica.

Mandy Burkett is our office Administrator. She comes to us following a more than 30 year career working for the Ohio Department of Health where, most recently, she managed the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program. In her retirement she has taken up working in a studio with her husband, Thomas Nelson. Thomas paints and Mandy works at the torch making glass beads and jewelry. While Mandy no longer attends UCG, she grew up in this church, knows many of you, and is anxious to help in any way she can! Stop in to see her anytime.

Jackie Dawson is our accompanist on both organ and piano and has enhanced our worship services since 1998. She also teaches piano and voice. You can reach her at
jackiekdawson@gmail.com.