Our History

Our Story: More than 80 years in St. Petersburg

As its name suggests, First Unity Church is the first Unity church to be established in St. Petersburg, Florida. In 2006, the church celebrated its 82nd anniversary. Today, this ministry is recognized throughout the worldwide Unity movement as a vibrant, leading center of Unity teaching and fellowship.

In 1924, a study class was established, led by a retired Methodist minister. It was incorporated under the laws of Florida in 1930. Rev. Louise Beaty, an ordained Unity minister, was accepted as the associate minister in 1940 and appointed as senior minister in 1942. She served First Unity Church until she retired in 1964.

During the mid-1960s and 1970s, several senior and associate ministers served the church. In 1972, some members left the church to establish Unity Christ Church in St. Petersburg.

Rev. Leslie D. Saunders was selected as minister in 1975, and he served until his retirement in 1993.

In 1994, Rev. Alan Rowbotham, who had co-founded Unity of Roanoke Valley, Virginia, with his wife, Rev. Kathryn Rowbotham, became senior minister. At the time, Rev. Alan was president of the Association of Unity Churches. Rev. Kathryn supported First Unity by participating in Sunday services and teaching classes.

Rev. Temple Hayes became associate minister in 2003, and she became co-minister with Rev. Alan on March 20, 2005. After 12 years of service, Rev. Alan Rowbotham retired, and Rev. Temple Hayes became senior minister.


Our Church Home

In 1945, Sunday morning services were moved from a small chapel on Fifth Avenue South to the Capitol Theater. Four years later, the first phase of a new church was built at 801 Sixth Avenue South.

In 1954, the sanctuary was enlarged to accommodate 1,000 people, and a fellowship hall was built. In 1956, a mansion next to the church was purchased to house the Youth Education Department.

In 1974, 2.05 acres on 45th Avenue North were purchased. Construction of the new church building began in October 1975, and the first service there was held on Palm Sunday, 1976.

In 1981, the church lobby was enlarged, entrances were changed, a new bookstore was created, a second floor was added for the youth education program, and additional parking was added next to the sanctuary. In 1983, four additional lots on 46th Avenue North were purchased for additional parking space. The sanctuary was expanded and 1,600 square feet of offices and other rooms along the front of the building were constructed in 1987.

Following a successful $10,000 fundraising campaign in 1995, First Unity expanded its rose garden adjacent to Friendship Hall. In 1997, First Unity retired its mortgage on its main building and leased and remodeled an adjacent building on 45th Avenue North, named "The Learning Center," for use as Sunday School and day school classrooms. The Learning Center and an adjacent building at the corner of Fourth Street and 45th Avenue North were purchased in 2001.

In May 2007, First Unity Church opened a 2,000 sq. ft. bookstore on the 4th Street property. Wings...More than a Bookstore features the newest authors, hosts events and movie nights and has a coffee/tea bar and cafe patio.

The History of Unity

The Unity spiritual movement was founded in 1889 by Charles and Myrtle Fillmore in Kansas City, Missouri, and was rooted in this couple's desire for physical healing. Both were well-versed in world religions. Myrtle discovered that by repeating the affirmative prayer, "I am a child of God, therefore, I do not inherit sickness," and praying for perfect health for two years, she was healed of terminal tuberculosis. Charles used the same type of prayer that affirmed God's presence within him, and he was healed of injuries that had hampered him since childhood. Their friends soon began practicing affirmative prayer, the Fillmore's began writing about their beliefs, and the Unity movement was born.

Unity Village, located 15 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City, Missouri, is the home of the Association of Unity Churches and Unity School of Christianity, world headquarters for the international movement. More than 1,000 Unity churches are located all over the world.