Unitarianism - local history

Local history
The first Bahá'ís in England are thought to have lived in the 19th century. Marion Miller was probably the very 1st Bahá'í in the country.  She became a Bahá’í in 1894 in Chicago before coming to England in 1895. Marion taught the faith to her aunt, Miss M Brown, who also became a Bahá’í around 1896-1897.

The next Bahá’ís were Miriam Thornburgh-Cropper and Ethel Rosenberg, they were both very important women.

Miriam Thornburgh-Cropper was an American who moved to London around 1898. Ethel Rosenberg, who came from Bath, became a Bahá’í in 1899 after hearing Miriam’s teachings. Together Ethel and Miriam began England’s Bahá'í community.

Miriam Thornburgh-Cropper was part of the 1st pilgrimage of western Bahá'ís to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Akka. Miss Rosenberg was closely linked with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.

Over the next few years, more Britons became Bahá’ís and a Bahá'í group began in London in 1914. The Bahá'í leader Abdu’l-Bahá visited Britain in 1911, and over Christmas in 1912 and over the New Year in 1913.

More and more people became Bahá’ís and so a Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly for England began in 1922. It was followed by spiritual assemblies in London, Manchester and Bournemouth and a National Spiritual Assembly for Great Britain in 1923.

The number of local spiritual assemblies also grew. By 1963, there were 50, by 1974 there were 102 and by 1992 there were 200.