Racovia: An Early Liberal Religious Community

In the depths of the Polish countryside lies the little town of Raków (Racovia). Raków today shows few signs of its illustrious history as the chief center for progressive religious thinking in Europe. Founded as a utopian community in 1569, by the early seventeenth century it had become "the Unitarian capital of Europe." Its academy attracted scholars and students from all over the Continent. Hundreds of books poured from its presses, including the famous Racovian Catechism, published four centuries ago and still in print to this day. Though the Racovian experiment eventually fell victim to the forces of religious repression, the ripples arising from this little community have spread in ever-widening circles during the ensuing centuries, and their effects can still be seen today.

Rev. Dr. Phillip Hewett (1925-2018) was minister of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver for 35 years, from 1956 to 1991. Born in England, where he received the bulk of his education and training for the ministry, he held the following degrees: BA, Oxford University, 1949 MA, Oxford University, 1951 STM, Harvard University, 1953 STD (honoris causa), Starr King School for the Ministry, 1969 He served as assistant minister at the Unitarian Church of Montreal (1953-54) and as minister of the Ipswich Unitarian Congregation in England (1954-56) before coming to Vancouver in 1956 as parish minister. After his retirement in 1991, he served as interim minister at the Unitarian Church of Victoria (1991-92) and had shorter-term appointments with the Unitarian fellowship in St Catharines, Ontario, Auckland, New Zealand and Adelaide, Australia. He traveled widely, making six trips to the Unitarian movements in Poland and ten to Romania, both beginning in 1969. He was active in the International Association for Religious Freedom and the the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, as well as holding responsible positions in the Canadian Unitarian Council and the Unitarian Universalist Association. In 1992 he was the recipient of the UUA's Annual Award for Distinguished Service. He was active in many community organizations, particularly those working in interfaith relations, family services, education, peace, and environmental concerns.