First Parish In Wayland

What First Parish In Wayland does

First Parish in Wayland is a Unitarian Universalist congregation founded in 1640, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit religious organization from its historic 1815 Meetinghouse at 225 Boston Post Road in Wayland, Massachusetts. The congregation serves seekers, members, families, and community visitors in the MetroWest Greater Boston area through weekly Sunday worship at 10:30 a.m., a Lifespan Learning religious education program, music programs (including a Berklee Faculty Jazz Series and bell choir), social action initiatives, pastoral care, and facility rentals for weddings, memorial services, and community events. Its 5-person paid staff includes an interim minister (transitioning to a new permanent minister in August 2026), Director of Lifespan Education, Music Director, and Bell Choir Director, supported by elected parish leadership and volunteer lay ministry.

The organization has no proprietary technology product. Its digital infrastructure is limited to a Wordpress website (uuwayland.org), an online giving platform (Servant Keeper), YouTube for sermon archives, Facebook and Instagram for community engagement, and Zoom for virtual events. The revenue model is donation-based: annual pledge campaigns (fiscal year July 1 to June 30), weekly Sunday plate collections, designated funds (Minister's Discretionary Fund, Lydia Maria Child Fund for Activism), facility rental fees, and recurring fundraising events including a yard sale tradition dating to 1944 and an annual Holiday Pop-Up/Social Justice Sale. Roughly half of offerings are shared with external social justice organizations twice monthly, including the Trevor Project, World Central Kitchen, the Metrowest Worker Center (CASA), and the Wayland Community Fund. Go-to-market is community-led, driven by member referrals, public events, social media, and partnerships with MetroWest Climate Solutions, Arts Wayland, UU Urban Ministry, and Family Promise Metrowest.

Name

First Parish In Wayland

Legal name

First Parish in Wayland

Website

https://uuwayland.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

First Parish in Wayland is a Unitarian Universalist congregation founded in 1640 serving the Wayland, Massachusetts community through weekly worship, religious education, music programs, social action initiatives, and facility rentals, funded primarily by member pledges and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services / Unitarian Universalist Congregation

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (8131)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Unitarian universalist congregation
• Religious worship services
• Religious education programs
• Community social action
• Facility rental venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Wayland, Massachusetts

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tithes, Offerings, and Pledges: First Parish in Wayland operates primarily on voluntary financial contributions from its congregation members. The church conducts weekly Sunday plate collections, annual pledge campaigns (e.g., 2026-2027 pledge campaign), and accepts general fund donations. Donors can make one-time or recurring payments online through the Servant Keeper giving platform. The pledge year runs from July 1 to June 30.
2. Special Offerings and Designated Funds: The church receives donations to designated funds including the Sunday Plate (shared with social justice organizations), the Minister's Discretionary Fund, and the Lydia Maria Child Fund for Activism. These targeted donations support both church operations and external social justice causes.
3. Facility Rentals and Event Revenue: First Parish rents its facilities for weddings, memorial services, and community events. The church's 1815 Meetinghouse, vestry, sanctuary, and other spaces are available for rental to members and the public, generating revenue for church operations.
4. Fundraising Events: The church hosts fundraising events including an annual yard sale (a tradition since 1944), a Holiday Pop-Up/Social Justice Sale, and benefit concerts. These events raise funds for both church operations and social justice nonprofits. The Holiday Pop-Up Sale in 2024 raised a record $7,500 for five nonprofits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First Parish in Wayland is a Unitarian Universalist congregation that provides weekly Sunday worship services, Lifespan Learning religious education for all ages, social action and community justice programs, a music ministry including choral and concert programming, pastoral care, and facility rentals for weddings, memorial services, and community gatherings. All worship and program participation is offered free of charge, with operations funded by voluntary member pledges, donations, and fundraising events.

Product overview

First Parish In Wayland is a Unitarian Universalist congregation offering worship services, religious education (Lifespan Learning), social action programs, music programs, community events, pastoral care, and facility rentals. It does not offer technology products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday Worship Services Weekly Sunday worship services held at 10:30 a.m. at the 1815 Meetinghouse, offered freely to all visitors and members of the Wayland community.
• Lifespan Learning Religious Education Program Spiritual and ethical exploration program for all ages, including Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality education, led by the Director of Lifespan Education.
• Wedding and Memorial Services Life-cycle ceremonies (weddings, memorial services) officiated at the church by the minister, available to members and the public.
• Facility Rentals (Meetinghouse, Sanctuary, Vestry, Stokey Library, Lawn) Rental of the 1815 Meetinghouse, sanctuary, vestry, sun room, Stokey Library, commons, youth room, and lawn for weddings, memorial services, concerts, and community events.
• Music Ministry (Choirs, Bell Choir, Berklee Faculty Jazz Series) Music programming including an adult choir, bell choir, Music Sunday events, and the Berklee Faculty Jazz Series concerts hosted at the Sanctuary.
• Social Action Council and Social Justice Programs Social justice initiatives including the Welcoming Congregation, Lydia Maria Child Fund for Activism, MetroWest Climate Solutions, twice-monthly offering sharing with nonprofits, and community support programs.
• Annual Yard Sale and Holiday Pop-Up Sale (Fundraising Events) Annual community fundraising events where 20% of yard sale proceeds support A Place to Turn and Open Table food banks; the 2024 Holiday Pop-Up Sale raised a record $7,500 for five nonprofits.
• Summer Services Consortium Shared summer worship services with neighboring UU churches including First Parish Weston, Sherborn, Framingham, and Lincoln, held at rotating locations during summer months.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MetroWest Climate SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish in Wayland is a sponsoring member of MetroWest Climate Solutions (MCS), a local partnership of organizations and congregations working to inspire healthy, sustainable communities by hosting programs that address the climate crisis. MCS sponsors include First Parish in Wayland, First Parish in Lincoln, First Parish Church in Weston, CFREE Lincoln, and Energize Wayland. The church co-hosts climate-focused webinars and events through MCS.
• Arts WaylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish co-sponsors the Arts Wayland Berklee Faculty Jazz Series, hosting world-class jazz concerts and music events in its Sanctuary. Arts Wayland provides concerts at First Parish, and the church provides the performance venue. The partnership has included concerts featuring Berklee College of Music faculty artists, the Musicians of the Old Post Road, and other acclaimed performers.
• Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry (UUUM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish has been a long-time friend and supporter of the UU Urban Ministry in Roxbury. The UUUM offers academic enrichment programs to Boston-area youth of color, safe shelter and workforce development for domestic violence survivors, and arts and humanities programs. First Parish participates in UUUM events including concerts, Roxbury public art tours, and social justice initiatives.
• Family Promise MetrowestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish is one of three congregations participating in a Family Promise Metrowest pilot program to transform the lives of families with children facing homelessness by providing shelter, education, and comprehensive support. First Parish provides dinner, food shopping, and gift cards for Family Promise guests.
• Summer Services Consortium (UU Churches)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst Parish participates in a Summer Services Consortium with neighboring UU churches, sharing summer worship services and community events. Member churches include First Parish Weston, First Parish Sherborn, First Parish Framingham, and First Parish Lincoln. Services are held at rotating locations during the summer months.
• Wayland Community FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Parish shares its Sunday offering with the Wayland Community Fund, which provides temporary assistance to Wayland residents in need of help with utilities, rent, medical expenses, food, and other essential needs. The church also supports the fund through its social action programs.
• The Trevor ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Parish donates half of its Sunday offering to The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ young people. The church shares its offering with this organization to support vital community causes.
• World Central KitchenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Parish donates half of its Sunday offering to World Central Kitchen, founded by Chef José Andrés, which provides fresh meals in response to crises worldwide. The church supports this organization as part of its social justice offering-sharing program.
• Metrowest Worker Center (CASA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Parish supports the Metrowest Worker Center (CASA), an immigrant worker-led organization based in the MetroWest area of Greater Boston that organizes to defend and expand the labor, civil, and human rights of all workers. Summer service offerings are donated entirely to CASA.
• Stop & Shop (Bloomin' 4 Good Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Parish's Pantry Garden was selected as a beneficiary of the Stop & Shop 'Bloomin' 4 Good Program.' For each specially marked $11.99 bouquet sold at the Wayland Stop & Shop, $1 is donated to the Pantry Garden. This supports the church's food donation programs to local shelters.
• Lydia Maria Child Fund for ActivismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Lydia Maria Child Fund (LMCF) is an internal fund at First Parish used to support social action and activism initiatives. The fund sponsors community programs, workshops, and events including nonviolence training, conversations across differences, and other social justice programming.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Trinity Church Boston: Major historic Boston congregation operating a landmark facility with extensive music programming, social services, and facility-rental revenue streams. Comparable as a heritage New England church with diversified programming, though on a substantially larger scale than First Parish in Wayland.
• Unitarian Universalist Association: Denominational umbrella organization of which First Parish in Wayland is an affiliated congregation. Provides shared governance standards, ministerial credentialing, and resources that shape operating practices across the UU peer network.

Direct peers

• First Parish in Cambridge: Historic Unitarian Universalist congregation in Cambridge, MA with deep New England heritage and similar liberal religious programming. Comparable in offering Lifespan Learning, music ministry, and progressive social action to First Parish in Wayland.
• First Parish in Weston: Neighboring Unitarian Universalist congregation in Weston, MA and active partner in the Summer Services Consortium with First Parish in Wayland. Operates with similar worship, education, and social action programming for a comparable suburban Boston demographic.
• Old South Church in Boston: Historic Boston congregation (UCC/UU heritage roots) with a comparable long-standing New England liberal religious identity, music ministry, and social justice orientation. Comparable in operating a historic facility with rentals, heritage programming, and urban community engagement.
• First Church in Roxbury: Historic Unitarian Universalist congregation in Roxbury that partners with First Parish in Wayland through the UU Urban Ministry. Same denomination with an explicit social justice mission and urban community-outreach focus.
• First Unitarian Universalist Society of Worcester: Unitarian Universalist congregation in Worcester, MA operating with a similar worship, education, and social justice programming model as First Parish in Wayland. Comparable denomination, revenue model, and community-engagement approach.
• First Parish in Lincoln: Unitarian Universalist congregation in Lincoln, MA that participates in the Summer Services Consortium and co-sponsors MetroWest Climate Solutions programming with First Parish in Wayland. Same denomination, similar suburban Boston member base, and overlapping community engagement model.
• First Parish in Sherborn: Unitarian Universalist congregation in Sherborn, MA and Summer Services Consortium partner with First Parish in Wayland. Operates the Good as New Shop thrift store, demonstrating a comparable diversified-revenue approach to a similar suburban Boston congregation.
• First Parish in Framingham: Unitarian Universalist congregation in Framingham, MA participating in the Summer Services Consortium with First Parish in Wayland. Same denomination, similar Lifespan Learning programming and pledge-based revenue model in the MetroWest region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/FirstParishinWayland
• Facebookfacebook.com/fpw1815
• Instagraminstagram.com/first_parish_in_wayland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-parish-in-wayland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about First Parish In Wayland