The Rev. Edwin “Ed” Charles Lynn died on February 10, 2025, at the age of 89 (1935-2025).
Ed was born in Hartford CT, on November 12, 1935, to Charles K. Lynn and Edna C. Lynn. He spent most of his early years in Manchester CT, where he attended Manchester High School. An Eagle Scout, he excelled in athletics, earning a state record in the long jump and on the cross-country team, and participating in basketball.
Ed pursued a career in architecture, graduating as a valedictorian with a Bachelor of Architecture from the Syracuse University School of Architecture, NY in 1958. While at Syracuse, he was introduced to Unitarianism and became involved with the Syracuse May Memorial Unitarian Church. After attaining his architectural registration in Colorado, Ed and his wife settled in Denver, where he worked for an architectural firm.
In 1961, Ed transitioned from architecture to liberal education, joining the Great Book Foundation as Southwest Area Director and relocating to Dallas TX. Over time, he felt that liberal education provided the general knowledge necessary for developing a worldview, but ultimately, one’s conduct and judgment stemmed from the principles or convictions shaped by religion. He believed that primary development is religious in origin and felt a call to cultivate intellectually perceptive and spiritually sensitive individuals.
The Unitarian church, through the precepts of democratic action, spiritual freedom, and individual thought, embodied the ideals that Ed most valued and offered a meaningful path for his contributions. As a UU minister, he sought to draw attention to the broad spectrum of the world and hoped that the members of the church would become stimulated by the varied concepts of philosophies and religion. In 1967, he graduated from Starr King School for the Ministry with his Master of Divinity.
The Rev. Lynn was ordained on December 10, 1967, by the First Unitarian Society of Milford NH, where he served his first ministry, 1967–1972. During his tenure, he became committed to creating an atmosphere of meditation and beauty as an integral dimension of religious experience. As a result, worship services began having greater meaning. Music became more varied and relevant, the service format became more direct and simpler, and congregational participation flourished. The Rev. Lynn brought creativity and vision to the pulpit and beyond. He conducted several experimental programs and provided leadership for better artistic standards for the Sunday services, helping the church become recognized as a major contributor to the intellectual and artistic life of the wider community. He also initiated small group activities, from a play reading group to a contemporary issues discussion group. Under his leadership, the church’s religious education program was revitalized with a more relevant curriculum and scheduling procedure, and the adult programs became diversified and active.
In 1972, the Rev. Lynn accepted a call from the Northshore UU Church in Danvers MA, where he would serve for 33 years until his retirement (1972–2005). Through Sunday services, sermons, traditions, rites of passage, community service, and a whole range of ministerial activities, he brought beauty and peace as well as awareness and challenges to the members. He helped create a community where each member shared their talents and interests for the spiritual enrichment of all. In 2005, in recognition of his decades of dedicated service, the Northshore UU Church honored him as their minister emeritus.
In addition to his parish ministries, Rev. Lynn held various leadership roles within the denomination. He completed two terms on the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee and was a co-coordinator for the Conference for Architects and Consultants at the UUA. He worked as a denominational counselor at Harvard Divinity School, 1986–1987, participated in the UUA Pamphlet Commission, and contributed cartoons to the UUA Ministers Association Newsletter. Furthermore, he served on the board of the UUA Religious Arts Guild and was President of the UU Ministers Association.
He brought a unique blend of ministry and architectural expertise to the denomination, serving as an architectural consultant to over 20 UU churches. He was recognized as an outstanding facilitator and helped congregations move from general program goals to specific architectural priorities. His interest in remodeling existing facilities and the cooperative building of new structures culminated in the Beacon Press book, Tired Dragons: Adapting Church Architecture To Changing Needs.
Ed also served his local communities as president of the New Hampshire/Vermont Ministers Association and Board Chair of the District Church Programs Committee. He served on the board of the Isaac Munroe Foundation. In North Shore communities of Boston, he was active with the Danvers Clergy Association and the North Shore Hospice.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed drawing, playing tennis, listening to music, reading, and taking long walks. During retirement, Ed and his wife Marj spent a great deal of time traveling the world and at the beach, enjoying the coastal amenities of Ipswich and the North Shore of Massachusetts. All they needed to be content was the sea, cappuccino, and each other.
Ed is survived by his children Bruce (Lori) and Sharyl (Scott); and grandchildren Isley, Chase, Katrina, and Max. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Marjorie Lynn.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Northshore UU Church, 323 Locust St, Danvers MA 01923. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marj Lynn Memorial Fund, with checks payable to NSUU (‘Marj Lynn Memorial Fund’ in Memo) c/o Northshore UU Church, 323 Locust Street, Danvers MA 01923. Notes of condolences may be written here.