Born in New York City in 1921, Brownlie worked for the Chrysler Corporation for a number of years before becoming a Unitarian minister. He was minister at several churches before arriving in Edmonton on Jan. 1, 1970. His forte was counselling and promoting gay rights. “The Edmonton church was one of the first – if not the first – church to be formally recognized as a ‘Welcoming Church’ to gay people," he says.

Rev. Brownlie helped with the creation of the Westwood congregation, and instituted monthly church dances. He retired in December 1984 after 15 years at UCE, and moved to Kelowna, British Columbia. He died in 2010.

© 2010 Unitarian Church of Edmonton