OUR BEGINNING...
Introduction to New Thought and the Unity Movement
Unity was founded in 1889 by Myrtle and Charles Fillmore, not to be a separate church or religious denomination, but as a spiritual center dedicated to helping people of all faiths apply positive spiritual principles to better their lives.
Their path to founding Unity began in 1886, when Myrtle became very ill and was given only a few months to live. She had been “frail” as a child, was sick throughout most of her life and at age 41 was told there was nothing she could do about it. She tried the latest cures and alternative cures, but nothing seemed to work. Day after day she kept get weaker.
During that time, the New Thought Movement was beginning to spread across the U.S. and the desperate Fillmore's attended a lecture about the power of positive prayer held by Dr. E. B. Weeks. After the talk, Myrtle declared, "I am a child of God and therefore I do not inherit sickness." Her faith in the infinite spirit that is God grew and she stated it out loud hundreds of times per day. She spent hours in prayer and meditation. She saw only perfect health and strength for herself and in less than two years, Myrtle recovered completely from pneumonia and chronic tuberculosis. She attributed her recovery to her use of prayer and positive affirmations and started helping neighbors and acquaintances on their own healing journeys. Myrtle went on to live another 45 years, healthy and vital, until making her transition at age 86.
As Charles watched his wife recover from a terminal disease, he started using the power of positive prayer too and he started healing from a childhood accident that had required him to wear a metal leg brace for over 20 years. As a life-long entrepreneur, from a young age Charles had always been a curious sort, learning about science and the latest inventions of the Industrial Age, while also reading classical authors such as Shakespeare, Tennyson, Emerson and Lowell. As he healed, he immersed himself with in-depth study of world religions and philosophies, which is what led him to link religion with science, rather than against it.
This shared experience is what started Unity.
Charles and Myrtle Fillmore started Unity from their house near downtown Kansas City. In 1889, Charles pivoted from his real estate business to focus entirely on publishing a new periodical, Modern Thought. In 1890 he and Myrtle organized a prayer group that would later be called "Silent Unity" and in the following year, the Fillmore's started publishing Unity Magazine.
On December 7, 1892, Charles and Myrtle penned their Dedication and Covenant.
We, Charles Fillmore and Myrtle Fillmore, husband and wife, hereby dedicate ourselves, our time, our money, all we have and all we expect to have, to the Spirit of Truth, and through it, to the Society of Silent Unity.
It being understood and agreed that the said Spirit of Truth shall render unto us an equivalent for this dedication, in peace of mind, health of body, wisdom, understanding, love, life and an abundant supply of all things necessary to meet every want without our making any of these things the object of our existence.
In the presence of the Conscious Mind of Christ Jesus, this 7th day of December A.D. 1892.
Charles Fillmore
Myrtle Fillmore
In 1903, Dr. H. Emilie Cady published a series titled "Lessons in Truth" in the Fillmore's new magazine. This material later was compiled and published in a book by the same name, which served as a seminal work of Unity and, to a larger extent, the growing New Thought movement.
The humble spiritual center continued to grow in popularity, expanding from a single house into campus that included offices, meeting space, printing presses and even a vegetarian restaurant that was open to employees and also the public.
In 1914, the Unity School of Christianity was officially incorporated. After WW1, Unity bought a small farm about 15 east of Kansas City in order to grow produce for their restaurant and serve as a local marketplace.
That 15-acre farm evolved into what now known as Unity Village, a 1,200-acre incorporated town that is the world headquarters for the enduring and ever-growing Unity movement. This is where the Daily Word magazine and other inspirational publication are published, 24/7 prayer support through Silent Unity is maintained, the world’s largest international prayer ministry operates, and educational classes, special events and retreats are offered year-round. Unity Village has the largest fountain display in the Kansas City metro area, an award-winning rose garden, and two buildings that are included on the National Register of Historic Places. The wide-open spaces and distinctive Mediterranean architecture create a tranquil atmosphere. The property is also home to a hotel and conference center, a chapel, a bookstore and coffee shop, nature trails, a golf course, and indoor and outdoor wedding and reception venues.
Today there are hundreds of Unity churches and study groups worldwide that make up about 2 million followers. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore dared to dream… and today their dream continues to be a growing reality.
ABOUT UNITY OF CHATTANOOGA
There has been a registered Unity in Chattanooga for over 50 years. But Unity roots probably date back much farther than that.
The first, formal Unity, Christ Unity, began in the 1970's, or earlier, at our current home: 105 McBrien Rd.. What a place it must have been back then! It's almost hard to imagine. The history of those years is only in the woodwork now, but we know that it thrived and grew during those years.
In the 1980's, the 1000sqft, 1923 Craftsman house in the East Brainard neighborhood was deeded to Christ Unity by the previous (or maybe even original?) owner. In the 1990's, Unity minister Lora Beth Gillbreath, who is head minister at Unity Transformation in Knoxville now, served as Christ Unity's head minister.
In the early 2000's, Christ Unity lost their minister and their board of trustees decided to no longer be minister-centric. They decided to focus on hosting rotating speakers and musicians and from then on, 105 McBrien Road became known as the Myrtle and Charles Coffeehouse.
Unity of Chattanooga was born out of that decision because many members of Christ Unity at the time wanted to remain minister-centric. So they formed a new Unity, hired a series of ministers and for about 20 years there were TWO Unity's in Chattanooga, one on McBrien Rd. and one at a large, rented space downtown on Black Street where upwards of eighty or more people would gather for Sunday services.
Then, in 2020, Covid de-railed both ministries. Unity of Chattanooga lost their Black Street location and became "a church in a Jeep" in order to meet for Sunday celebration services. People slowly started gravitating back. We started meeting at the Red Bank Community Center and occasionally, on nice spring, summer and fall days, outside at the Hubert Frye Center along the Riverwalk. In the Spring 2023, after growing from about half a dozen regulars to almost two dozen regulars every week, we learned that we needed to start searching for a new meeting place. We met the challenge as an opportunity and together we expressed intention for a new and perfect meeting place. In September of that year the Unitarian Universalists graciously let us rent space from them for five months on Saturdays. It was during this time our beloved, long-term minister Reverand Doug Werth decided to retire.
In February 2024, Christ Unity, down to just a handful of remaining members by then, bequeathed to Unity of Chattanooga their long-time meeting place. Unity of Chattanooga quickly put a new roof on the building, put in new flooring, new plumbing, painted, and did other repairs and held its first service in the venerable old Unity landmark April 7, 2024.
We've been meeting there every Sunday at 10:30AM ever since (except for the ice storm in mid-January 2026!). We also open our doors many other days of the week for seminars, discussion groups and special events like sound baths, guided meditations and other presentations so be sure to check our Event Calendar to see what's coming up next!
Or better yet, come attend one of our Sunday morning celebrations to hear and see for yourself what we have going on because we do indeed have it going on!
At our Spiritual Discovery Center, as we like to call it,
we seek to expand our service offerings throughout the week
to both our ever growing, live, in-person gatherings
and to our growing online community as well.
If you are interested in getting involved, let us know!
