Unity of Central Florida traces its roots back to 1932 when the first Unity study group started meeting at the Tremont Hotel in downtown Orlando. Our founder Rev. Carolyn Hightower was among the members of this original group. Born in 1894 in South Carolina, Carolyn moved to Orlando in the 1920’s. As a frail teenager, Carolyn was told she had little time to live, but overcame the odds and lived to be 101! She credited her healing to the principles taught by the Unity school of thought; connecting with God and affirming health through prayer and meditation. When she became active with the Unity study group in Orlando, she received a message from God to “go out in the world and help”. Spreading the Unity message was her answer to this calling. Carolyn became a Unity ordained minister in 1938 and was the founder and first minister of the Unity Center in Orlando which was officially incorporated in 1939.
Rev. Carolyn Hightower – 1942
Rev. Carolyn Hightower – 1980’s
Carolyn was led by God to build a church to house the growing ministry. She found a donor for the land and the original church building was completed in 1942 amid the shortage of materials caused by World War II. Somehow the money and materials always appeared at the right time and the church became a downtown Orlando institution located on South Orange Avenue across from City Hall. This church was one of the first standalone Unity churches built in the United States. Carolyn went on to lead the church as senior minister for 40 years.
First church building
Church sanctuary
In 1953 Unity Center of Orlando changed its name to Christ Church Unity. Over the decades, this active Unity ministry outgrew the original downtown property. In 1999 the church moved to our present campus on Holden Avenue which includes the sanctuary, peace chapel and Hightower Hall. In 2021 Christ Church Unity was officially renamed Unity of Central Florida.
Some special items were preserved from the original church building and are incorporated into our current buildings. The pillars from the front of the original church now stand in the entryway of Hightower Hall in our current campus. The chandeliers and stained-glass windows from the original church are now featured in the sanctuary and the Peace Chapel.
Stain glass windows and chandeliers in original church sanctuary.
The same stain glass windows and chandeliers in the current sanctuary.
For over 85 years, our Unity church has shone its spiritual light across Central Florida and this legacy continues. As our founder Reverend Carolyn Hightower said, “Our Work Is the Light of the World.