History of Church-sponsored Coffeehouses and American Folk Music
Church-sponsored coffeehouses have a long history in the United States. For example, Nameless Coffeehouse has operated for over 40 years (since 1966) on the site of The First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Cambridge, MA. And fifty years ago, it was The Sacred Mushroom coffeehouse in Columbus, OH that hosted Phil Ochs; a local fan reminisced, "One of his first public performances as a solo artist was at the First Unitarian Universalist Church on Weisheimer Road, where he performed for a ladies luncheon," she said with a laugh ... "God only knows the songs he performed there." In fact, Unitarian Universalists are a denomination particularly known for sponsoring folk coffeehouses.
"The welcoming environment of Unitarian Universalist coffeehouses has provided an artistic haven for a variety of performers and helped launch the entertainment careers of folk musicians such as Pete Seeger and Arlo Guthrie.
Folk music is featured at The Old Ship Coffeehouse Off The Square, located in the parish house of Old Ship Church in Hingham, MA, (which is, incidentally, "the oldest English church in continuous use in America.") The First Congregational Church in Branford, CT sponsors the Branford Folk Coffeehouse, a monthly folk music concert series held in its auditorium.
Mom & Pop's Coffeehouse, a folk concert series held in the sanctuary at United Christian Church in Levittown, PA, uses the altar as the stage, and has been held since 1994.
And in 2011, the Good Folk Coffeehouse began its 21st concert season at the Rowayton United Methodist Church, in Rowayton, CT.
Read more about this topic: Cafe Church
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