Dr. Holmes and the more conservative members of his flock departed and founded the Shepard Congregational Society. In 1899, it was agreed that the church associated with that society should be called the First Church in Cambridge (Congregational), now part of the United Church of Christ, and this church, the First Parish in Cambridge (Unitarian) [now Unitarian Universalist].
Dr. Holmes and a faction of more conservative members left his congregation to establish the Shepard Congregational Society. In 1899, it was decided that the affiliated church would be called the First Church in Cambridge (Congregational), which is now part of the United Church of Christ, while the original church became the First Parish in Cambridge (Unitarian) [now Unitarian Universalist].