In Memory of Rev. MARGARET (Meg) A. BARNHOUSE (1955−2026)

We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the Rev. Margaret “Meg” A. Barnhouse, who died on January 13, 2026, at the age of 70.

Meg was born on August 30, 1955, in Philadelphia, PA, to Katherine Hamilton and Donald Gray Barnhouse. She attended Baldwin School in Philadelphia, a private girls’ prep school known for its liberal and academically rigorous environment. During high school, she began exploring earth-based spirituality. Meg went to Duke University, where she double majored in psychology and political science in 1977. During her junior year, she spent the spring semester in Jerusalem studying Hebrew at an ulpan, a school for new immigrants. She navigated this experience on her own and traveled home through Turkey, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Austria at her own pace, gaining independence and profound insight.

From an early age, Meg felt called to be both a minister and a counselor. She pursued a Master of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ, where she blossomed into a raving feminist theologian and majored in preaching, winning the Grier-Davies Prize for her class. She graduated in 1980 and was ordained in 1981, beginning her ministry at the Presbyterian Church. Her first professional ministry was at Converse College, a women’s college in Spartanburg, SC, where she served as a Chaplain. Meg administered grants, organized speakers, and programming for the students, and simultaneously worked in the Spartanburg community to establish the first shelter for battered women, serving as President of the Board for four years. She also taught courses in Church History, World Religion, Human Sexuality, and Public Speaking while doing her counseling practice.

Since 1981, Meg had been preaching at a local Unitarian Universalist (UU) church, a community where she immediately felt at home. Reading UU history paralleled the inner evolution she had undergone. In 1991, she attended UU Women spirit, a women’s spirituality conference held at The Mountain in Highlands, NC. Over the years, as her life unfolded through marriage, birth of sons, divorce, pastoral counseling, and her coming out as a lesbian in 1995, she found the Presbyterian Church too limited and rigid for the breadth of her beliefs. In the late 1990s, she transitioned to Unitarian Universalism.

The Rev. Barnhouse served as an interim minister for the UU Church of Spartanburg, SC, from 1996 to 1998, providing inspiring leadership and fostering social action in the community. She initiated many projects, which included adopting a city elementary school in a high-poverty area, introducing the Welcoming Congregation curriculum, and addressing a pending amendment referendum on the SC ballot on same-sex marriage. In 2002, she served as a contract minister for the Greenville UU Fellowship, SC, and later accepted a call from the UU Church of Spartanburg as settled minister, serving until 2009. She was then an interim minister at the UU Congregation of Princeton, NJ (2009–2011) and a senior minister at First UU Church of Austin, TX for eleven years. In 2022, the Austin church honored her as their minister emerita.

The Rev. Barnhouse was equally involved in denominational affairs, serving as a keynote speaker at the Midwestern Annual Women’s Conference and the Northeastern District Conference. She served as guest minister for the Thermal Belt UU Fellowship, Tryon, NC. She travelled to different UU churches and fellowships in the Southeast, preaching and giving workshops.

She brought an exciting mix of feminist spirituality, knowledge of world religion, and a spirit of fun to her ministry. She was skilled at conflict resolution, very dynamic from the pulpit, and compassionate in pastoral care and counseling.

Her writings appeared in newspapers all over Spartanburg County, the Asheville Citizen-Times, on WNCW radio, on NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered, and in the UU World. She authored the Meditation Manual in 1999 and was a certified pastoral counselor. 

For a hobby, Meg wrote novels and radio commentaries, held a second-degree black belt in American karate, played the drums and guitar, and enjoyed singing. 

Meg is survived by her wife, the Rev. Kiya Heartwood; their two sons, Sam Barnhouse Durrett (Emily) and Ned Durrett (Emilee); and five grandchildren, Piper Leigh, Hollis, Willow, Vance, and Early. She is also survived by her stepmother, Bethie Barnhouse; her sisters, Ruth Story and Lucy and Joana Barnhouse; her stepsister, Mindy Cardenas; her stepbrother, Miguel Cardenas; and her nephew, Aidan, and niece, Lillia.

Two memorial services were held. One was held on Friday, February 27, 2026, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brazos Valley, 1719 E 29^thStreet, Bryan, TX 77802.  A second service was held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, TX, 4700 Grover Ave, Austin, TX 78756. Replays of those services are on the church websites and social media pages.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brazos Valley.

Notes of condolence may be sent to dearmegb@gmail.com.