First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church • 330 First Parish Rd, Scituate MA 02066

Minister & Staff

Interim Minister:
The Reverend Erin Splaine

The Reverend Erin Splaine is serving as Interim Minister at First Parish Scituate for a term of two years starting August 1, 2023. Erin graduated from Harvard Divinity School in 1998. During three happy settled ministries in Northhampton/Florence, Wayland, and Newton, she built a reputation as a strong preacher, an engaged activist in social causes, and a caring minister to her congregations. She comes to us from her first Interim stint at Old Ship Unitarian in Hingham. She lives with her partner in Provincetown. 

Church Office Administrator:
Stephanie Stewart

Stephanie Stewart became Parish Administrator of First Parish UU Church of Scituate in the Fall of 2016. Originally from Philadelphia, Stephanie received a bachelor's degree in geography from Bridgewater State College in 1988, and now lives in Scituate with her husband and two adult daughters.

Musical Director/Organist:
Beth Dubuisson

Beth Dubuisson became music director of First Parish UU Church of Scituate in the Fall of 2006. She was born in Rochester, New York in 1958. She completed the music preparatory program at the Eastman School of Music, and received a bachelor's degree in music education from Indiana University with high distinction. She taught music briefly in the Gloucester MA public school system and was organist for the Christian Science Church in Gloucester. Beth taught piano privately at the Mary Johnson Piano Studio in Newburyport, and later became music director and organist at the People's United Methodist Church in Newburyport. She married David Dubuisson in 1986 and began her own piano studio in Wayland. Since 1989, she has been a judge for the National Guild of Piano Teachers. She has been active in various local, state and national music teachers' associations. Beth currently teaches piano at her home in Kingston. She is the rehearsal accompanist for the Fine Arts Chorale in Weymouth. She has two adult daughters, Jillian and Sophie, and a step-daughter, Eva-Marie.

Minister Emeritus: 
The Reverend Richard Stower

At our 381st Annual Meeting in May 2015, our congregation voted to honor the Rev. Mr. Richard M. Stower with the title of Minister Emeritus. This is the first Minister Emeritus in our church’s long history and we are happy to recognize him for his long and respected service to our community and congregation.
Rich Stower received a Ministry of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School in 1990. He was ordained at the First Parish in Concord, MA and has served as a part-time minister in Andover, NH and as interim minister in Keene, NH before serving First Parish, Scituate from 1992-2011. He is the author of A History of the First Parish Church in Scituate, Massachusetts: Its Life and Times, which won the 2013 Congregational History Award from the Unitarian Universalist History and Heritage Society. Rich is married to Nancy Richards-Stower, an employment law attorney. In 2016, Rich and Nancy retired to Yarmouth, ME. 

Religious Education Lead Teacher: 
Melissa Wakeman

Melissa Wakeman joined us as a Lead Teacher in 2022. She is an "artist, mother, and teacher" who first met First Parish families (some of whom were already familiar with her beach-stone mosaics) when she led a summer service on the beach in 2021. A 1997 Smith College fine arts major, she has taught at Beach Street School and Wampatuck Elementary School. She is excited to be sharing her love of discovery, learning and community. She has two sons in junior-high school, Finn and Mason.

We are hiring a Coach and an additional Teacher for 2023-24: