The congregation began with eight interested individuals in January 1973. In October 1973 this fellowship was officially recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as the First Unitarian Fellowship with its 22 charter members.
The name changed in September 1980 to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Winchester, and in November 1987 the official name was changed to the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Shenandoah Valley. Since the COVID pandemic, we commonly use a shorter form of our name, UU Shenandoah.
The fellowship held their early meetings at various locations including members’ homes, the Beth El Temple, the Memorial Building at Jim Barnett Park, Handley Regional Library, and other locations. As the membership grew, the fellowship desired a larger and more permanent facility, and in November 1987, began services in a new home, the former Cedar Cliff Presbyterian Church located south of Stephens City.
As membership increased, the congregation outgrew its small home, and in May 2004 moved to its current home, a purpose-built facility located on 20 acres generously donated by its members Dierdre Cochran and Dan Couch.